Nuno Neves, LASIGE integrated member, was the invited speaker at “Andamentos da Ciência”, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), on October 19, 2022.

In this session, three main questions were addressed: What is a computer vulnerability? Why can’t we eliminate these vulnerabilities? And given that to err is human, will Artificial Intelligence (AI) not be able to eliminate these vulnerabilities, opening the door to a new era in which the occurrence of computer attacks is just a distant memory?

This talk had taken into account the increased dependence on the correct functioning of computer systems, such as cell phones and computers, that highlights the increasing value of computer security associated with these systems in our lives in order to make them less vulnerable to attacks. The most recent examples of successful computer attacks include the disclosure of personal information of more than 1.5 million TAP customers or the sale on the dark web of hundreds of secret/confidential documents sent by NATO to Portugal.

“Andamentos da Ciência” is a new FCUL’s cycle of conferences, where experts are invited from different fields of knowledge to share with society the latest knowledge in different areas of interest, in communications inspired by TED talks. It is an original idea of Pedro Almeida (sub-director for Communication and Image and External Relations), with the organization of the events being the responsibility of Marta Daniela Santos (Office of Science Communication of Communication and Image Department).