News
Study shows: AI systems generate manipulative design patterns without explicit instruction
In their latest study, ATHENE researchers, together with researchers from the University of Glasgow and Humboldt University in Berlin, show that AI applications such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude AI automatically integrate manipulative design patterns (dark patterns) into website code. These manipulative elements are implemented even for neutral queries, without the AI systems pointing out the legal or ethical implications.
read more
UNIDIR report on submarine cables is published: Co-Authored by ATHENE researcher
Subsea fiber-optic cables form the backbone of global digital infrastructure, carrying over 99% of intercontinental data traffic, yet despite their critical importance, they have received limited attention in national and international policy frameworks. A new report by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) addresses this gap through a detailed analysis of various approaches to designating and protecting undersea cables as critical infrastructures. The recently published report "Achieving Depth: Submarine Telecommunications Cables as Critical Infrastructure" was written by ATHENE researcher Jonas Franken (PEASEC/TU Darmstadt) in collaboration with Dr. Camino Kavanagh (King's College London) and Wenting He (UNIDIR).
read more
Accepted papers at Eurocrypt 2025
At this year's Annual International Conference on the Theory and Applications of Cryptographic Techniques, Eurocrypt for short - an important conference in the field of cryptography - two papers were accepted with the participation of ATHENE researchers.
The first paper presents new methods for improving authenticated encryption schemes. These methods protect both the confidentiality and the authenticity of data. The second paper introduces a new security model. This can process input from multiple sources simultaneously - an important capability that is lacking in the current Key Derivation Functions (KDFs). KDFs are currently considered the standard for secure Internet communications.
ATHENE and DFKI combine their research activities
ATHENE and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) have agreed on a comprehensive research collaboration. This strategic partnership aims to explore the critical intersection between cyber security and artificial intelligence with combined scientific expertise.
read more
ATHENE researchers analyse Apple's Emergency SOS
ATHENE researchers, in collaboration with the Hasso Plattner Institute, have conducted the first comprehensive security analysis of Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite service. Despite the multi-layered encryption architecture, the analysis revealed significant security vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to circumvent geographical restrictions and send unauthorised messages.
read more