Ivan Flechais

Ivan Flechais is an Associate Professor in Software Engineering at the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford. His work focuses on the intersection of security engineering and human factors, developing approaches that balance technical security requirements with usability considerations in real-world contexts.

Dr. Flechais earned his BSc and PhD in Computer Science from University College London. He holds dual French-British nationality and was educated in France until university level. His academic journey reflects an international perspective that informs his research on security systems across different cultural contexts.

Flechais's research centers on developing methods for creating secure systems that account for real-world usability constraints. His work addresses the complex challenge where security competes with other system requirements like functionality, usability, and efficiency. He is particularly known for developing the AEGIS design methodology, which provides a cost-effective approach to security design that incorporates usability considerations. His current research explores socio-organizational factors in secure systems design, with recent work focusing on smart home security and privacy, remote work security challenges, and the intersection of security culture with technical implementation.

His publication record shows a strong trajectory in usable security research, with recent work (2020-2024) increasingly focused on smart home environments, privacy in domestic settings, and the security challenges of remote work. His research demonstrates consistent attention to the human element in security systems, examining how users interact with security mechanisms in real-world contexts across different cultural settings and technological domains.

• Smart home security and privacy challenges
• User experience of security mechanisms
• Socio-organizational aspects of security implementation
• Cross-cultural security and privacy considerations
• Security for distributed and remote work environments

Dr. Flechais has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students, including Sarah Alromaih, Varad Vishwarupe, George Chalhoub, and Martin J. Kraemer, among others. His supervision work often focuses on the practical application of security principles in emerging technologies, with students frequently examining security challenges in smart homes, IoT devices, and remote work contexts. His research has been supported through various projects including webinos and Sponstaneous Security, which address security challenges in distributed mobile applications and ad-hoc network environments.