Computer Laboratory

Maria Bada

I am a Research Associate at the Cambridge Cybercrime Centre, at the Computer Laboratory of Cambridge University, an interdisciplinary initiative combining expertise from computer science, criminology, and law.

Within this role my research focuses on the human factor in cybercrime. More specifically, I focus on profiling of cybercriminals, the cybercrime ecosystem and how the Internet supports criminal behaviour online as well as the ways to combat cybercrime through tools and capacity building especially for emerging economies.

Previously, I was a Senior Researcher at the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre, University of Oxford. In this role, I focused on research related to cybersecurity and cyberpsychology and encouraging responsible cyber culture within society. My role entailed both desk research as well as field work at an international level. My research focused on the human factor of cybersecurity and the assessment of the effectiveness of cyber security awareness campaigns, their impact in changing online behaviour and the factors to assess cyber security capacity. Within that post I engaged with the British Government as well as Governments globally and a wide range of global partners, including international organisations and the private sector such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, the Organization of American States and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation.

I am a member of the National Risk Assessment (NRA) Behavioural Science Expert Group in the UK, working on the social and psychological impact of cyber-attacks on members of the public. Moreover, I am a member of the Steering group of the London Digital Security Centre, launched by the Mayor of London as a joint venture with the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police, a member of Europol EC3 as well as a member of the Joint Task Force CSEC2017 Global Advisory Board (GAB) working on the development of the first set of global curricular guidelines in cybersecurity education.

I graduated the Department of Psychology, at Panteion University in Athens. My Ph.D. and Master studies focused on Media Psychology and change of behaviour. I have worked towards the treatment of excessive use of internet in children and adolescence by conducting prevention activities for teachers, parents and children. I am a member of the British Psychological Society and the British Counselling Society. I did a practical training at the Department of Clinical Psychology in Wagner-Jauregg Psychiatric Clinic in Austria, as well as at the Department of Social Affairs, at the Provincial Government Office of Upper Austria.

Research interests

  • Profiling of cybercriminals and the cybercrime ecosystem. Studying the profiles, pathways and psychologies of cybercriminals and how they form their groups. Research using qualitative methods of interviewing cybercriminals and experts in the field as well Law Enforcement.
  • The human element of cybersecurity and human and computer interaction: a)Conducting research on the effectiveness of cybersecurity awareness campaigns trying to identify factors which potentially lead to failure of these in changing the information security behaviour of consumers and employees; b) Conducting research on cybersecurity awareness initiatives for school learners and the role of the school at enhancing cyber safety; c) The social and psychological impact of cyber-attacks and the aspects such as widespread anxiety and the social disruption caused to people’s daily lives.

    Professional Memberships

  • Member of the National Risk Assessment (NRA) Behavioural Science Expert Group in the UK, Cabinet Office.
  • Member of Europol EC3 – SPACE.
  • Member of the H2020 PROJECT GEIGER, on Cyber Security and Data Protection for Micro and Small Enterprises, Switzerland
  • Member of GigaNet network for internet governance scholars
  • Member of Internet Society Cybersecurity SIG Interest Group, UK Chapter
  • Member of the Security Awareness Special Interest Group (SASIG)
  • Member of the Joint Task Force CSEC2017 Global Advisory Board (GAB) working on the development of the first set of global curricular guidelines in cybersecurity education.
  • Member of the steering group for the London Digital Security Centre (LDSC), not for profit organisation founded by the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) in 2015, as a joint venture with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the City of London Police (CoLP).
  • Member of Internet Society Cybersecurity SIG Interest Group, UK Chapter.
  • Member of the Security Awareness Special Interest Group (SASIG).
  • Member of the British Psychological Society.
  • Member of the British Counselling Society.

Email
maria.bada [at] cl.cam.ac.uk

Phone
+44 (0) 1223 763697

Office
GE21

Mail
Dr Maria Bada
Computer Laboratory
15 JJ Thomson Avenue
Cambridge CB3 0FD
United Kingdom