Assistant Professor
Seoul Women's University
Department of Information Security
R105, The 2nd Science Hall, 621, Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (01797)
Email: sun.lee@swu.ac.kr
My research focuses on analyzing and processing physical-layer data to (1) strengthen security mechanisms and (2) identify potential vulnerabilities in systems. Physical-layer data, such as vibrations, acoustic signals, sensor readings, and electromagnetic signals, is naturally generated during device operation. For example, electromagnetic emissions from a device may inadvertently reveal patterns that adversaries could exploit, while sensor data can feature unique device-specific characteristics that support robust authentication methods. By examining these signals, I aim to develop innovative techniques that not only enhance security from a defensive perspective but also uncover potential attack vectors, enabling a comprehensive approach to addressing the evolving challenges in cybersecurity.
I am always open to sharing and discussing innovative ideas!
A brief biography about me is as follows:
Academic Backgrounds
Ph.D. in Information Security, School of Cybersecurity, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Sep. 2015 ~ Feb. 2022)
- Dissertation Title: Secure IoT System Design based on Challenge-response Structure at PHY-level
- Academic Advisor: Professor Dong Hoon Lee
B.S. in Mathematics, College of Natural Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Mar. 2011 ~ Feb. 2015)
Position Held
Assistant Professor, Department of Information Security, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Mar. 2024 ~)
Staff Engineer, Security & Privacy Lab, Samsung Research in Seoul, Republic of Korea (Oct. 2022 ~ Feb. 2024)
Research Professor, School of Cybersecurity, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea (Mar. 2022 ~ Sep. 2022)
Research Interests
IoT Security
Sensor Security
Device/User Authentication
Biometrics
Usable Security
Side-channel Attack
Representative Publications
Lee, Sunwoo, and Wonsuk Choi. "Eyes on Your Typing: Snooping Finger Motions on Virtual Keyboards". Proceedings of the 46th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (IEEE S&P (Oakland) 2025) (acceptance rate: 14.8% = 257/1740)
Lee, Sunwoo. "Gyro-Mag: Attack-Resilient System Based on Sensor Estimation." Sensors 25.7 (2025): 2208. [SCIE (Q2), IF 3.4]
Lee, Sunwoo. "Real Steps or Not: Auto-Walker Detection in Move-to-Earn Applications." Sensors 25.4 (2025): 1002. [SCIE (Q2), IF 3.4]
Lee, Sunwoo, Wonsuk Choi, and Dong Hoon Lee. "The vibration knows who you are! A further analysis on usable authentication for smartwatch users." Computers & Security 125 (2023): 103040. [SCIE (Q1), IF 5.6]
Lee, Sunwoo, and Dong Hoon Lee. "From Attack to Identification: MEMS Sensor Fingerprinting Using Acoustic Signals." IEEE Internet of Things Journal (2022): 5447-5460. [SCIE (Q1), IF 10.6, JCR Top 1.79% in Computer Science, Information Systems]
Lee, Sunwoo, Wonsuk Choi, and Dong Hoon Lee. "Usable user authentication on a smartwatch using vibration." Proceedings of the 2021 ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security (ACM CCS 2021)
Lee, Sunwoo, Wonsuk Choi, and Dong Hoon Lee. "Securing ultrasonic sensors against signal injection attacks based on a mathematical model." IEEE Access 7 (2019): 107716-107729. [SCIE (Q2), IF 3.9]
Lee, Sunwoo, Wonsuk Choi, and Dong Hoon Lee. "Ulrera!: Securing ultrasonic sensor based on Signal Relation and Randomness." {Poster Session} 26th USENIX Security Symposium (USENIX Security 2017)
Patents
METHOD FOR DETECTING ATTACK USING ROAD TRAFFIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN V2X ENVIRONMENT (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-2602602, 2023)
CONGESTION ATTACK DETECTION SYSTEM IN AUTONOMOUS COOPERATIVE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT USING RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGTH MEASUREMENT (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-2510380, 2023)
METHOD OF DETECTING ATTACK ON SENSOR (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-2491867, 2023)
TECHNIQUE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SOFTWARE UPDATE BY USING WHITE-BOX CRYPTOGRAPHY (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-2491866, 2023)
CONGESTION ATTACK DETECTION SYSTEM IN AUTONOMOUS COOPERATIVE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT USING RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGTH MEASUREMENT (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-2404211, 2022)
User Authentication using Vibration Signals on Wearable Devices (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-2393483, 2022)
User Authentication using Vibration Signals on Wearable Devices (PCT Application Number: PCT/KR2021/004911, 2021)
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A SIGNAL INJECTION ATTACK ON AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-1992832, 2019)
METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING A MESSAGE IN A VEHICLE NETWORK SYSTEM, (Granted Patent Number(KR): 10-1705639, 2017)
Courses
Introduction to Computer and Information Security
Data Structure
Computer Algorithm
Privacy Protection Technologies
Last Update: May 07, 2025
I am collaborating with EMSEC Lab at Korea University.