Scott Seidenberger

Short Bio

I’m an applied security researcher in SecretLab, advised by Anindya Maiti. I study and develop technology that counters digital authoritarianism. This mission has led me to audit large companies’ privacy and data sharing practices, develop a censorship resistant DoH service, and research secure P2P networking in web3.

From its humble beginnings, the internet is fracturing into the splinternet, a less observable web of walled-gardens that has become a playground for autocrats and extractive oligopolies. But there exists a counterweight! Decentralized systems have emerged to mitigate these risks through both technological and economic means.

However, if these decentralized systems are to be adpoted as digital infrastructure fit for public use, then their security is a key public concern. The security of these systems that sit on top of the core internet infrastrucure needs to be thoroughly and continously evaluated. My research interests sit at this intersection of distributed systems security, web3, and the internet.

Military Service

Before entering academia, I served as an Air Force Officer and separted as a Captain after 7 years. I had the privledge of getting to serve in many different roles. I had combat deployments supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, helped Air Force Research Labs develop AI and directed energy weapons, and served as the princpal expert on electromagnetic warfare for the E-3 AWACS. I concepted and the Air Force funded (over $100k test award) a new airborne EW program, published technical works and book chapters, and briefed Combatant Commanders and the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on novel, classified, long-range killchains.

I feel strongly about protecting open societies and individual liberties, values I bring from my time in the military to my academic work.