The SOTERIA Lab
Security Of Terminals, Infrastructure, & Applications
Director: Dr. Huadi Zhu
PUBLICATIONS
CPS and User-centered Security
​
Xinyao Ma*, Chaoqi Zhang*, Huadi Zhu*, Jean Camp, Ming Li, Xiaojing Liao (* Equal Contribution)
ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS’24)
​
SoundLock: A Novel User Authentication Scheme for VR Devices Using Auditory-Pupillary Response
Huadi Zhu, Mingyan Xiao, Demoria Sherman, Ming Li
The Network and Distributed System Security Symposium (NDSS’23)​​
​
BlinKey: A Two-Factor User Authentication Method for Virtual Reality Devices
Huadi Zhu, Wenqiang Jin, Mingyan Xiao, Srinivasan Murali, Ming Li
ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp’21)​​​​
GPSBuster: Busting out Hidden GPS Trackers via MSoC Electromagnetic Radiations
Yue Li, Wenqiang Jin, Zhengyu Ning, Daibo Liu, Zhenxiong Yan, Zheng Qin, Yu Liu, Huadi Zhu, Ming Li
ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS’24)
​​
Behaviors Speak More: Achieving User Authentication Leveraging Facial Activities via mmWave Sensing (Best paper honorable mention)
Chenxu Jiang, Sihan Yu, Jingjing Fu, Chun-Chih Lin, Huadi Zhu, Xiaolong Ma, Ming Li, Linke Guo
ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems (SenSys'24)
​
Periscope: A Keystroke Inference Attack Using Human Coupled Electromagnetic Emanations
Wenqiang Jin, Srinivasan Murali, Huadi Zhu, Ming Li
ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS’21)
​​
Continuous Authentication using Human-Induced Electric Potential
Srinivasan Murali, Wenqiang Jin, Vighnesh Sivaraman, Huadi Zhu, Tianxi Ji, Pan Li, and Ming Li
Annual Computer Security Applications Conference (ACSAC'23)
​
Mobile Systems and Networks
Bere: A Novel Video Recommender System for Virtual Reality Using Human Behavioral Signals
Huadi Zhu, Chaowei Wang, Venkateshwar Reddy Darmanola, Hongbo Guo, Wenqiang Jin, Ming Li
ACM Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking (MobiCom’24)
​​
EyeQoE: A Novel QoE Assessment Model for 360-degree Videos Using Ocular Behaviors
Huadi Zhu, Tianhao Li, Chaowei Wang, Wenqiang Jin, Srinivasan Murali, Mingyan Xiao, Dongqing Ye, Ming Li
ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp’22)
​​
SpeechQoE: A Novel Personalized QoE Assessment Model for Voice Services via Speech Sensing
Chaowei Wang, Huadi Zhu, Ming Li
ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems (SenSys’22)
​​​
User Safety in Transportation Systems
CycleGuard: A Smartphone-based Assistive Tool for Cyclist Safety Using Acoustic Ranging
Wenqiang Jin*, Srinivasan Murali*, Youngtak Cho, Huadi Zhu, Tianhao Li, Rachael Panik, Anika Rimu, Shuchisnigdha Deb, Kari Watkins, Xu Yuan, Ming Li (* Equal Contribution)
ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp’22)
​​​
Wenqiang Jin, Mingyan Xiao, Huadi Zhu, Shuchisnigdha Deb, Chen Kan, Ming Li
ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (Ubicomp’21)
​
​​
ONGOING RESEARCH INITIATIVES
Assessing Cybersecurity on Cyber-physical Systems
Cyber-physical systems (CPS), which tightly integrate computational elements with physical processes, are foundational to critical infrastructures such as autonomous vehicles, smart grids, and industrial control systems. This research initiative focuses on assessing the cybersecurity posture of CPS by systematically analyzing their vulnerabilities, threat models, and attack surfaces. Through a combination of empirical experimentation, formal modeling, and simulation-based analysis, the project aims to develop robust assessment methodologies and mitigation strategies that enhance the resilience, reliability, and safety of CPS in the face of evolving cyber threats.
Enhancing Security and Privacy in Immersive Technologies
As immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) become increasingly integrated into everyday life, ensuring robust security and privacy is critical. This research initiative aims to identify and mitigate emerging threats in immersive environments by developing novel techniques for secure data transmission, user authentication, and privacy-preserving interaction. By leveraging interdisciplinary approaches across cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, and machine learning, the project seeks to build foundational frameworks that safeguard users' sensitive data and promote trust in immersive digital experiences.
Ubiquitous Healthcare with Mobile Sensing
The rise of mobile and wearable devices has opened new frontiers for ubiquitous healthcare, enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of health-related behaviors and physiological signals. This research initiative explores the use of mobile sensing technologies to support proactive and personalized healthcare delivery. By leveraging data from smartphones, wearables, and ambient sensors, the project aims to develop intelligent models that detect, predict, and respond to health conditions in everyday environments. The goal is to empower individuals and healthcare providers with timely, actionable insights, fostering a shift from reactive treatment to preventive care.
Human-Inspired Network Services in Extended Reality
Extended Reality (XR) demands network services that are not only high-performance but also deeply attuned to human perception and behavior. This research initiative investigates human-inspired network service design to optimize Quality of Experience (QoE) in XR environments. By integrating insights from cognitive science, behavioral modeling, and adaptive networking, the project aims to develop systems that dynamically tailor data delivery based on users' attention, intent, and interaction patterns. The outcome is a new generation of XR network services that are perceptually-aware, resource-efficient, and personalized for immersive user experiences.