UMass Lowell recognized for work on cyber-security

The University of Massachusetts Lowell has been recognized by national defense organizations for its efforts to promote digital safety and combat cyber-security threats including malware, phishing, or hacking.

The university has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research, or a CAE-R, by the National Security Agency and Homeland Security, UMass Lowell said in a statement.

The university was selected because of its work on researching ways to protect against malware and hacking, UMass Lowell said.

The university said it has been working for more than a decade to find ways to combat cyber attacks. Such threats are expected to increase as more people use Internet-connected devices.

A report from Symantec Corporation revealed more than a billion thefts of personal information and medical records in 2015, UMass Lowell said.

Xinwen Fu, co-director of UMass Lowell’s Internet Security and Forensics Education and Research team, and his students are working to create security awareness and cyber-defense tools.

“We are truly honored that the university has been recognized with this prestigious title,” Fu said in a statement. “Our faculty and students have published more than 60 papers on cyber defense in peer-reviewed journals and proceedings in the last five years, and have given talks and presentations at premier cyber-security conferences across the country.”

UMass Lowell said the designation is in effect until 2021.