In the middle Abubokor Hanip, Chairman and Chancellor of Washington university of science and technology, with Ahmed Afif Monrat. They are flanked by two professor responsible for organising the conference.
15 December 2025
Research paper about cyber security awarded in Washington
Ahmed Afif Monrat and Karl Andersson has received Best Paper Award at the 11th IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Technology and Engineering (IEEE i-COSTE 2025). The paper describes how blockchain techniques can be used to enhance security when logging in to online platforms.
A blockchain is a decentralised database, meaning it has many copies. Everyone with access to the blockchain will see any changes made in the database. This makes it very difficult to manipulate the database log afterwards.
When you log in to a database, for example your bank, you need a password. These systems are usually centralised which means that your identity is verified in one instance only. Such systems can be compromised, either by people within, employed to secure the system and thus having access to confidential information or by external hackers.
Using blockchain
In the article, Ahmed Afif Monrat and Karl Andersson, describe how a decentralised system, such as a blockchain can be used to enhance security when you log in to a platform. In the decentralised system the user identity is verified in several different instances.
“A hacker trying to steal your password would only see several digits because the actual password is encrypted. Only you can see how you did your password”, Ahmed Afif Monrat explains.
“Centralised systems can be feasible in countries like Sweden with high levels of trust and low levels of corruption. However, in many third world countries, where trust is low, blockchain solutions may be necessary for people to trust in using a device at all”, he continues.
International collaboration
The article “Decentralized Access Control Using Blockchain and Smart Contracts for Enhanced Cybersecurity” was awarded during the IEEE International Conference on Sustainable Technology and Engineering at Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST) 2–4 December.
A total of 350 papers were submitted to the conference, and 105 papers were accepted for publication. Out of these, 90 papers were presented during the conference.
“Getting this kind of recognition is great. But I think that I am even happier about WUST reaching out to us at Luleå University of Technology to initiate some kind of collaboration. Among ideas discussed were exchange programmes, guest lecturing and research funding.” Ahmed Afif Monrat says.
Ahmed Afif Monrat is Associate Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security. Karl Andersson is Professor in the same subject.
Published:
Updated: