Study of Authentication and Network Protocols of Instant Messengers on Mobile Devices (Project)

Duration: 2-4 Months, > 4 Months

Internship Type: Undergraduate, Pre-University


Project Overview/Background

Security of instant messengers (IMs) is increasingly a focal point in today's world, where IMs are heavily used for both personal and work matters. This study aims to understand more about the security strength of selected IMs and, in turn, the best practices to develop a secure IM.

 

Scope & Deliverables

One or more of the following:

  1. Reverse engineer a mobile IM app to determine its authentication and/or communications implementation.
  2. Analyse an IM's authentication and/or communications for possible flaws which could compromise the privacy of the communicants.
  3. Demonstrate how flaws in IM authentication and/or communications could lead to a compromise of privacy/secrecy through a proof-of-concept.

 

Prerequisites/Skills Required

 

Application

In your application, please submit the following documents in a single PDF file for 'Resume/CV':
1. Resume/CV
2. All Education Certificates to-date (from secondary to tertiary education)
- GCE 'O'/'N' Levels, NITEC
- Prelim/GCE 'A' Levels, IB/Diploma
- Latest university transcript from Year 1 (for current undergraduates)
3. Student Status Letter/Degree Audit (for current undergraduates)