Elena Ferrari
Biography
Almost two-thirds of the world’s population now use online social networks. But these networks would not be what they are without the privacy protections they offer to users. And those privacy protections would not be what they are without the work of Elena Ferrari. She has brought vital innovations to social network security and privacy in numerous areas. She developed privacy-aware access-control solutions. She created vibrant defenses against the ever-present threats to social networks, like fake accounts, spam, and malware. She designed solutions for privacy-preserving data-sharing. Fundamentally, she has empowered people with technologies to protect their own privacy while ensuring an enjoyable user experience. Her work is deep and broad—and its impact is worldwide.
An IEEE member, Ferrari is a Professor of Computer Science, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy and is the 2024 recipient of the IEEE Innovation in Societal Infrastructure Award for "pioneering and sustained contributions to the security and privacy of online social networks."
