CCQ students discuss graduation projects in cyber, network security

A total of 28 male and female students from the Information Technology programme at the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) discussed 10 graduation projects to obtain the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Cyber and Network Security. The discussion took place in the presence of vice-presidents Dr Abdulla Khalid al-Ali (Academic Affairs), Ali Abdulla al-Buenain (Student Affairs), Science and Technology Division dean Dr Khawla al-Zoubi, Information Technology Department head Dr Abdullah al-Ghushami and several professors from Qatar University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Doha University for Science and Technology, as well as faculty members from CCQ.On this occasion, the Science and Technology Division organised an exhibition of the graduation projects at the Lusail Campus, showcasing the students' skills in computer hardware and software. The CCQ vice-presidents expressed their admiration for the students' projects and their pride in their achievements and research, both in the bachelor's degree courses and previously in the associate’s degree courses in cyber and network security.Dr al-Ghushami commended the academic approach that reflects the outstanding knowledge and skills they received during their studies. The teaching methods at the college combine theoretical classes, practical applications, and scientific research, indicating the quality of CCQ’s educational outputs and the effectiveness of its development plans.The students described the day, which precedes their graduation, as a pivotal moment in their lives. It represents the culmination of years of effort and perseverance in learning theoretical knowledge and acquiring practical skills within a study plan supervised by CCQ’s professors.The presented projects discussed important issues in cyber and network security and have the potential to become the nucleus of pioneering national projects. Graduation projects serve as a link between the college and the community, as well as important tools for performance evaluation, development, and future prospects.Student Ali al-Mehaizaa emphasised the importance of the project presented with his colleagues Mohamed al-Mansoori and Mohammed al-Mohannadi, namely: 'Phishing Attack Detection Technique Using Genetic Algorithm/Artificial Neural Network'.He pointed out that the project introduces an advanced approach to phishing attack detection by combining Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The project leverages the optimisation capabilities of GAs and the pattern recognition skills of ANNs to adapt to evolving cyber threats. It achieves a high detection rate and reduces false positives, contributing to a more secure digital environment amidst complex phishing attacks.Student Omer al-Baker illustrated the 'Recovery and Analysis of Chat Conversations, Media Files, and Metadata from Instant Messaging Apps on Mobile Devices' project' he presented with his colleagues Ali Abdullah and Ali al-Meadadi. The project addresses the challenges associated with analysing messaging app data, providing insights for forensic investigations using Oxygen Forensic Detective to extract and analyse data from instant messaging apps. The project reveals important digital evidence, including chat logs, multimedia files, call records, location data, recovered deleted messages, app usage information, metadata, and contact details.Student Salma al-Ghayathin, in turn, shed light on the 'Analysis of Email Header Metadata for Detecting Phishing Attacks or Unauthorised Access' project, she presented with her colleagues Lolwa al-Sulaiti and Maryam al-Abdulqader. She said that the project addresses the vulnerabilities associated with e-mail technology and provides methods to enhance security by focuses on mitigating email-related security threats, including phishing attacks, email spoofing, and malicious content. It employs a comprehensive approach that involves analyzing email header metadata, text-based content, and URLs/attachments.Students Noora Mohammed al-Kaabi and Maryam Nasser al-Khori presented the 'Mobile Device Data Recovery and Analysis: Using Different Platforms and Forensic Tools' project, which emphasises the importance of mobile device data recovery in forensic investigations. It evaluates the effectiveness of leading tools, such as Oxygen Forensic and Cellebrite UFED, for recovering data from iOS and Android devices. The project includes a comparative analysis of SMS messages, call logs, and applications, offering insights into mobile device forensics.Students Tassnim al-Sada and Reem al-Amri presented the 'Exploiting WLAN Signal Vulnerabilities Using HackFR Tool' project, which focuses on exploring vulnerabilities in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) within organisational settings. The research methodology involves recording and analysing signals using specialised software called HackFR, a software-defined radio tool. By exploiting these vulnerabilities, the project aims to gain detailed insights into packet data and to decipher, interpret, and manipulate targeted signals with precision.Five other outstanding graduation projects were also presented by distinguished groups of students: 'Geolocation-Based Email Forensics: Timeline Analysis Approach', by students Fatima al-Kuwari, Jawaher al-Abdulla, and Tahani al-Suwaidi; 'PRNG-Based Encryption Algorithm Development for Databased Security”, by students Muneera al-Thani and Zayed al-Thani; 'Practical Study on Testing and Evaluating Security Threats in Linux Web Servers', by students Sultan al-Maadeed, Rashed al-Marri, and Ahmad al-Khuzaei; 'Web-Based RSA File Encryption and Decryption Platform for Data security', by students Haya Abdelshahid, Habeeba al-Amri, Shama Aleid, and Haneen al-Eshaq; and 'Analysis of GPS and Location Data from Devices, Applications, and Services”, by Aisha Alabduallah, Fatma al-Sayed, and Hissa al-Sada.