Dr Fadi Aloul, an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at the College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah and winner of the 2008-2009 Khalifa Award for Excellence in Higher Education, is an inspiration to many students. His research on IT security is paving the way to protecting computer users from being targeted by cyber criminals. Nargish Khambatta meets the techno whizz.
Dr Fadi Aloul led a team of students to win the 2008 Microsoft Imagine Cup Gulf Competition for the development of an IT tool to measure pollution levels.
Dr Fadi Aloul wishes he'd maximised on his time at college and had more fun.
Dr Aloul describes himself as a “perfectionist to the core.''
Engineers have come a long way since the good old tally sticks of 35,000 BC or even the more recent Babbage-devised analytical engine of 1837, the first stored-programme mechanical computer.
But then, so have cyber-theft specialists and their ilk. So it makes us feel just that much safer knowing that cyber threat analysts such as Dr Fadi Aloul are around, working literally round the clock to spread awareness pertaining to cyber crime and to educate us on how we can protect ourselves against it.
As one of four siblings, Dr Aloul learned to value everything his parents could provide. His parents were doctors and worked extremely hard to ensure that their children received a good education. Dr Aloul has in turn justified the sacrifices they made for him in rising to the top of his chosen profession. He is considered one of the leading experts in cyber security in the country in his capacity as Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at the College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah.
Committed to teaching, research and helping his students devise ways of problem-solving, Dr Aloul is a regular on the seminar, conference and lecture-circuit. A taskmaster, he expects nothing less than the very best from himself and his students. He has been on a winning streak with two prestigious awards under his belt – the 2008-2009 Khalifa
Award for Excellence in Higher Education and the 2008 Gulf Imagine Cup organised by Microsoft. He is, understandably, elated.
I, ME, MYSELF
I was always a bit different. My parents are doctors and no one thought that I would study computer engineering in Michigan in the US. Coming from a standard working-class background, I was conscious of the privileges I was getting. I never, ever, took anything for granted and had to work very hard for everything I have achieved. My parents have been amazingly supportive.
If they were initially disappointed that I chose a profession so different from their own, they never let on.
I believe in fairness, both in my personal life and in academia. This was instilled in me not only by my family, but also by my mentor and PhD supervisor, Professor Kareem Sakallah at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for seven years. He told me that I would get my PhD only if I published a certain number of papers of international high-standing; the longer I took, the greater the delay in getting my doctorate.
Those were days when we would work till late, take a break and come back and work some more, and the cycle seemed to go on endlessly.
Work ethics and a sense of fair play took deep roots and I have much to thank him for.
I remember when I was awarded my PhD, I was ecstatic. I have never treasured anything 'material' as much. After all those years of hard work and sweat and tears, it was a proud moment indeed.
The other memorable moment for me was a few months ago when my son was born. Words cannot describe how I felt when I saw him in the operating theatre. It was a sublime experience. He is the first grandson in our family and he is such a blessing in our lives.
I dislike dishonesty and arrogance, especially among students. If you want to learn something, you must have a sense of humility and respect. I was taught that very early in life and it has influenced the way I think and work.
I am anything but a home bird! My wife, who is a dentist, often complains that as soon I come home, I want to go out. She is hoping that with the arrival of our son, I will be more home-bound. I love to eat out and try different cuisines. Though my wife is a good cook, she finds it difficult to learn new dishes that will tickle my tastebuds. She often turns to my mother for recipies, but my mom's culinary skills are limited to Arabic cooking only.
I never expected to get the prestigious Khalifa Award for Higher Education. It is the only award in the region for excellence in education at tertiary level. My students who had made a 15-minute video presentation on me for the submission were elated. As soon as the award was announced, my Facebook inbox was flooded with congratulatory messages. Friends and family, students and colleagues, all joined in in the celebrations. This award has made me and everyone on campus believe that hard work does not go unnoticed; it will get rewarded. This has goaded so many of us to feel even more committed to what we are doing. The American University of Sharjah (AUS) is an amazing place to work in. It is an independent, not-for-profit co-educational institution founded by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and working here is an enriching experience.
I, ME , MYSELF
Me and my research on IT Security
I am a professor of security and my favourite quote is: “the first thing you learn about security is that nothing is secure!''. I developed the course I teach on IT security from scratch and I am happy that it is one of the courses that is in great demand. My students and I are actively involved in a research project that seeks to find ways to protect computer from viruses. We are also doing some quality work on wireless networking and are spreading security awareness in the UAE.
Our recent findings have opened our eyes to a harsh reality. We discovered that up to 40 per cent of wireless users in this country do not use encrypted connections. That means that it is easy for 'moochers' to access their network, steal bandwidth and cheat service providers. The information is all in the air, and if your account in not encrypted, it is very easy for hackers to access your private information. It is a frightening thought that anyone can misuse your account to send spam or threatening e-mails, and if the misdemeanour is tracked, you will be held responsible for it.
Me and my research on Boolean Satisfiability Optimasation Engine (SAT) My area of specialisation is Boolean SAT. In Boolean SAT, the goal is to determine if a solution exists to satisfy a set of constraints of a problem. Advanced Boolean SAT technology allows intelligent optimisation of the solution to a problem. It can be applied to any situation – hospitals for juggling nursing schedules, schools for timetabling, or airlines for airline schedules. In Ann Arbor, Michigan,
I used to be jokingly called the SAT (for satisfiability) guy! My students are very enthusiastic and as the project leader, I initiate regular brainstorming sessions which have led to some award-winning ideas, several tools, and and more than 60 international publications.
Me and PMAP project
My team of four students won the 2008 Microsoft Imagine Cup Gulf Competition, for our novel pollution-related device and consolidated website, PMAP. It was basically an IT tool to track pollution levels in the city. The intention was for individuals, NGOs or the government to use the information about the pollutants in the environment. My students were invited to France to present their project at the World Finals.
The beauty of the idea is that this device, which is as small as a tissue box, can be easily carried atop a bus
to measure the level of pollution in the air (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc.). It will simultaneously provide the time, date and location of the reading and send the information through a General Pocket Radio Services (GPRS) system to a central database that effectively stores and monitors the pollution data.
The tissue box-sized device costs about Dh1,500-Dh2,000 and is made up of four parts – gas sensors, a GPS, a GPRS and a micro controller.
The information is plotted on a public website, PolluMap, and can be used as a fairly accurate indicator of pollution levels according to the International Pollution Standards Index. It took about six months to complete and thanks to the hard work put in by my students and the research grant provided by AUS, such a project was possible.
Me and my family
I have found my soulmate in my wife.
I am a family-oriented person and other than my work, I spend most of my time with my wife and son.
We are a close-knit family and like to keep in touch with our extended family members on a regular basis.
I am thankful I have an understanding wife. An embarrassing incident made me realise how lucky I am to have a family who believe in me.
A few months after I was married, I boarded a flight to London to attend a conference. I was amazed to see many missed calls and messages from my wife and friends when I switched on my phone. I was worried and called my wife immediately who tentatively enquired whether I was attending a conference or just gone to visit my new wife. Apparently a local magazine had carried a false report, along with a picture of me taken off my website, that I had got married to a well-known Arabic singer. Needless to say, I was furious and a week later the editor publicly apologised for the mistake. My students all teased me in class and extended mock congratulatory greetings! Today we all laugh about it, but at that point in time it was anything but funny.
A man needs a warm and caring family and the support system of caring friends and I am grateful for my circle.
Me and nature
I find I am at peace when I am in touch with nature. I enjoy gardening and we grow not only pretty flowers but also vegetables. I used to enjoy having pets as a boy and have grown up surrounded by cats, dogs and birds. I have even helped manage an apiary. It was fun keeping track of the bees, keeping a wary eye on the queen as we extracted honey from the hive.
I feel bad that I do not have enough time for all that now and hope that my son will have as whole a childhood as I did.
I, ME, MYSELF
What advice do you have for people to get secure in terms of IT?
Being a high-tech city, Dubai is a good target for hackers. Never access your e-mail or private information that requires a password at public places with free internet access (airports, hotels, and so on). Surfing the net is fine, but do not access your e-mail
if you want to be safe from hackers.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and WI-FI Protected Access (WPA) are the two types of wireless security protocols that can be set up through Internet access points. Of the two, WEP, is now outdated and can be hacked into very easily – literally within minutes. WPA on the other hand, is far more secure.
Identity theft is a serious issue and if you don't secure your internet connection, you can be a sitting duck for professional wardrivers who drive around, looking for wireless Internet networks that have weak security. Retailers who handle their financial transactions via wireless network are particularly vulnerable.
To parents: ensure you have a firewall and an anti-virus for your computer to prevent anyone from having access to your machine who can tamper with or destroy files.
Invest in filtering software for a fixed fee and then regularly pay the minimal update fee. Updating is essential or else it will become redundant against new sites (just like anti-virus software becomes uselss fending off new computer viruses if it is not updated regularly).
Don't delay updating because teenagers are constantly e-mailing each other many times a day and can spread the word about such sites very quickly. The filtering software can also monitor the online chat content and facilitate necessary intervention if necessary. Not many parents are aware of the availability of filtering programmes. Filters cost as little as Dh150 and updates cost not more than Dh45 annually. A small price to pay for security that can give you peace of mind!
Be aware of phishing websites – sites that look identical to your typical bank, work, university pages, yet have a different URL address. Don't enter your personal data into these websites. If you are not sure of the URL address check with the website owners. Even better, install an anti-phishing software.
Is there anything you regret?
Surprisingly, I regret not having enough fun in school and college. I've always been a very hard worker, ensuring that I got good grades.
In college I got a GPA of 4.0! I missed out on most of the fun times and often I rue that decision. I advise my students not to be bookworms, but to take time out to enjoy their youth as well.
What drives you to go the extra mile?
As a child I read an intriguing line – “hitch your wagon to a star''. I have always strived to touch that which is just beyond my reach. I thrive on challenges and have a burning desire to always prove myself over and over again.
What do you think is unique about Dubai and why have you chosen to live and work here?
Every city has its own charm and is known for specific things. The amazing thing to me is that Dubai is a multi- dimensional hub recognised worldwide as a tourist destination, a golfer's paradise, an educational hub, a centre for excellence, a financial hub – you name it, we are a hub for it! I find that Dubai is a safe haven with the security and values of the East merging with the material comfort of the West.
I am happy to be playing an part in its growth.
What work ethos do you subscribe to?
I am a perfectionist to the core. I like to ensure that a job gets done in the best possible manner. My students often complain that I am a slave driver! I have had to work very hard for whatever I have got in life and would not have achieved it if my parents had not taught me to be disciplined in everything I do and to do everything to the best of my ability.
