About Roberto Di Pietro Roberto Di Pietro Professor, Computer Science cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure Protection Distributed Systems Security On-line Social Networks privacy preserving techniques Professor Di Pietro is a cybersecurity expert who excels in building and leading research and innovation labs in the private sector, government and academia. He works on critical infrastructure protection, adopting an artificial intelligence-driven approach in collaboration with major stakeholders. Events Presented Events Apr 5 - Apr 11, 2026 DePIN: From Decentralization Promise to Security Reality - A Critical Dissection of Trust, Privacy, and Architectural Illusions Roberto Di Pietro, Professor, Computer Science Apr 6, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 R2325 privacy preserving techniques cybersecurity Web and Network security DePIN Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks VPNs dVPNs computer networking decentralized infrastructure systems In this talk, we critically examine DePIN systems through the lens of two complementary studies. First, we provide a systematic analysis of the DePIN paradigm, identifying its core architectural pillars - blockchain, IoT, and tokenomics - and exposing fundamental vulnerabilities arising from operating in a zero-trust, open-participation environment. Aug 27 - Sep 2, 2023 Thwarting Drones’ Threat Roberto Di Pietro, Professor, Computer Science Aug 28, 11:30 - 13:00 B9 L2 H2 H2 UAVs, or drones, are a dual-use technology that is gaining momentum, with applications spanning from agriculture to warfare. In this talk we will survey some of the threats posed by drones, and will discuss some scientific contributions to the field aimed at providing a way to reduce the risk posed by a rogue use of this technology. We will also highlight some related research directions.
DePIN: From Decentralization Promise to Security Reality - A Critical Dissection of Trust, Privacy, and Architectural Illusions Roberto Di Pietro, Professor, Computer Science Apr 6, 12:00 - 13:00 B9 R2325 privacy preserving techniques cybersecurity Web and Network security DePIN Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks VPNs dVPNs computer networking decentralized infrastructure systems In this talk, we critically examine DePIN systems through the lens of two complementary studies. First, we provide a systematic analysis of the DePIN paradigm, identifying its core architectural pillars - blockchain, IoT, and tokenomics - and exposing fundamental vulnerabilities arising from operating in a zero-trust, open-participation environment.
Thwarting Drones’ Threat Roberto Di Pietro, Professor, Computer Science Aug 28, 11:30 - 13:00 B9 L2 H2 H2 UAVs, or drones, are a dual-use technology that is gaining momentum, with applications spanning from agriculture to warfare. In this talk we will survey some of the threats posed by drones, and will discuss some scientific contributions to the field aimed at providing a way to reduce the risk posed by a rogue use of this technology. We will also highlight some related research directions.
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