Gaurav S. Kc

My research interests are in the areas of software systems and security. For my Ph.D. research, I’ve been looking at methods to fortify software applications and the operating system to withstand increasingly sophisticated attacks by black-hat hackers. To accomplish these tasks, I have modified various open-source systems like the Linux kernel, the GNU C compiler and the bochs x86 emulator. In doing so, I have also acquired deep knowledge of the software run-time environment on Linux, including its process memory model and mechanisms for dynamic linking and system-call handling, and of program compilation. Learning about the internal workings of software systems, and discovering ways of evolving them to create immunity against different attack techniques has been a rewarding experience. Below, I briefly describe my major research accomplishments categorised by area.