Kevin Day, a graduate of Metro State University's Master of Science in Cyber Operations program, has been awarded Best Paper at the IEEE International Conference on Cyber-Physical and Networked Control Systems (CCNCPS 2025), held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His research paper, titled “Analyzing Android Banking Trojans Using Permission-Based Profiling and Antivirus Engine Insights,” originated from his capstone project and marks a significant advancement in mobile threat detection.
Day’s work addresses the growing threat of Android banking malware—malicious applications designed to steal sensitive financial information from users. His study introduces a comprehensive detection framework that incorporates:
- Permission-based behavioral profiling
- Intelligent antivirus engine insight fusion
- Machine learning–driven classification models
This integrated method enhances the ability to detect Android-based financial malware more accurately and efficiently, providing a timely response to a rapidly evolving cybersecurity challenge.
“It’s inspiring to see Kevin’s capstone work receive international recognition,” said Dr. Faisal Kaleem, professor and director of Cyber Programs at Metro State. “His innovative approach to Android malware detection reflects the kind of real-world impact we strive to cultivate in our NSA-designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (NCAE-CO) program. I hope he continues to build on this important research—there’s a clear opportunity to expand and deepen this work.”
In addition to the core research, Day received crucial guidance from Dr. Khaled Rabieh, associate professor of Cybersecurity at Metro State, who mentored him through the process of transforming his project into a peer-reviewed publication. His support was instrumental in ensuring the research met rigorous academic standards and reached an international audience.
The award underscores Metro State University's commitment to advancing cybersecurity education and research. Through strong faculty mentorship and innovative student work, the university continues to shape the next generation of cybersecurity professionals equipped to meet global challenges.