Joint Statement on Contact Tracing:

For contact tracing apps aiming to support society to deal with the current SARS-CoV-2 / Covid-19 pandemic, we only endorse privacy respecting designs that collect and use data in a decentralized manner, in line with our general approach to decentralizing digital identity in project Digidow, opens an external URL in a new window. Centralized approaches to managing (pseudo-) identities and matching contact data pose too great a risk of becoming tools of mass surveillance and control far beyond dealing with the current crisis. Therefore, we fully support the Joint Statement on Contact Tracing, opens an external URL in a new window and the approaches, protocols, and prototype implementations listed in it.

We strive to improve security and network connectivity of computer systems both in world-wide and in local networks through research, education, and specific project work.

In addition to academic research and teaching, we firmly believe that it is our shared responsibility to improve the practical security of everyday computer systems and infrastructure that our current society is increasingly dependent upon.

Computer networks and security are fast-moving targets. Research and teaching at the Institute of Networks and Security therefore includes the full range from theoretical to highly practical issues.

Current key areas of research are:

• Digital Identities
• Secure Code
• Long Range Communication