Dilshani Hansika Mallikarachchi

Name: Dilshani Hansika Mallikarachchi
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Current Role:

Please tell us briefly about your current research and what impact you hope it’ll make.

My research concerns the application of the principle of information hiding into a type of network known as Flying Ad Hoc Network (FANET), to be used as a means of authentication.  Information hiding is the art of hiding data in a file so that no one apart from the sender and intended recipient is aware of the presence of the data. A FANET is a network of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that operates without fixed infrastructure or administrative support, by communicating directly with each other through multi hop communication. Since it operates in a wireless environment, where all communication is not regulated through a base station, it is prone to to several security threats such as eavesdropping, modification and fabrication, etc. Therefore, the maintenance and assurance of the integrity of information transmitted within the network is of utmost importance. For this purpose, information hiding can hence be adopted as a mode of authentication among the nodes of the network. My research will hopefully contribute to the secure implementation of FANETs that can essentially be used for applications such as search and rescue operations, border    surveillance,  disaster monitoring, managing wildfire, traffic monitoring, etc.

Has studying at Monash met your expectations so far? 

Yes, studying at Monash has met all my expectations in terms of the work environment, freedom to conduct research at a maintainable time-frame and the support received from my supervisors.

What do you like best about your student life at Monash?

What I like best about my student life at Monash is being a part of a very active, friendly student community that challenges and supports me everyday.

What are your career goals, or your future plans?

I hope to continue carrying out research related to the field of cybersecurity and information hiding in my professional career and hopefully work as a researcher in the industry.