Ali Muzaffar

Role
Assistant Professor
Section
School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences
Ali Muzaffar

About

Ali Muzaffar is an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) and director of Year 4. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Computer Science. He completed his PhD in Computer Science from Heriot-Watt University in 2024, specializing in Android malware detection using machine learning techniques. His research interests include malware detection, machine learning, and computer security.

Biography

Academic Leadership and Affiliations:

Director of Year 4 MACS

Qualifications:

  • BSc. Computer System (Hons.) – Heriot-Watt University - 2018
  • PhD in Computer Science – Heriot-Watt University - 2024
Research

Ali's primary research area is AI applications in cybersecurity, particularly Android security using machine learning.  They have published articles related to this field in reputable journals and conferences, while their research interests also span to encompass broader applications of machine learning in other areas and software engineering.

Publications
  • Muzaffar, A., Ragab Hassen, H., Zantout, H., & Lones, M. A. (2023). DroidDissector: A Static and Dynamic Analysis Tool for Android Malware Detection. Proceedings of the International Conference on Applied CyberSecurity (ACS) 2023.
  • Muzaffar, A., Hamza Riaz, A., & Ragab Hassen, H. (2023). Android Malware Detection Using Control Flow Graphs and Text Analysis. Proceedings of the International Conference on Applied CyberSecurity (ACS) 2023.
  • Muzaffar, A., Hassen, H. R., Lones, M. A., & Zantout, H. (2022). An in-depth review of machine learning based android malware detection. Computers & Security, 102833.
  • Muzaffar, A., Ragab Hassen, H., Lones, M. A., & Zantout, H. (2022). Android Malware Detection Using API Calls: A Comparison of Feature Selection and Machine Learning Models. Proceedings of the International Conference on Applied CyberSecurity (ACS) 2021.