Meet Our Team: 10 Questions for Kostas Ferles
“Meet Our Team” is a blog series where we introduce you to the people behind Veridise and make our company what it is. Today, we say hello to our Chief Research Officer Kostas Ferles.
Kostas joined Veridise in June 2022 and since then, he has quickly become a trusted colleague and friend. He got his B.S. And M.Sc. degrees in Computer Science at the university of Athens, and later on moved on to getting a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin, where he met our co-founder Işil Dillig — Kostas was part of the UToPiA group lead by her.
Kostas is fascinated by writing correct and efficient code by using a combination of program analysis and program synthesis techniques, and that’s just one of the many reasons he is such an amazing fit for the Veridise ethos. You can check out some of Kostas’ academic work here.
And now let’s ask him some questions!
Tell us a bit about yourself. Who’s Kostas Ferles?
The above sums up my academic/professional side of me pretty well. Other fun facts: I was born and raised in Athens, Greece. I moved to the US when I was 25. I am a huge comedy fan. Oh, I almost forgot, while doing a PhD, I also rowed (like on the water) competitively for a couple of years. For more, just keep reading!
You are both an academic, and get your hands dirty with real-world security challenges. How important is it for security researchers to keep a balance of both?
It’s the most important thing actually! There is a very nice synergy between the two. Getting your hands dirty gives you inspiration for new research ideas. Conversely, keeping up an eye on the current research trends can significantly simplify your day-to-day when you are performing audits.
In your career, what has been the most surprising or unexpected blockchain security vulnerability you’ve come across, and what implications did it have for the industry?
Just by the sheer volume of affected funds, I’d say the Euler Finance attack. Apart from the post attack real-life drama, this attack also demonstrated that even heavily audited projects are not immune to attacks. It also showcased that even small code updates after an audit can be detrimental.
How do you foresee the evolution of cybersecurity with the advent of emerging technologies like quantum computing and AI, and what should we be doing now to prepare?
Such disruptive technologies will definitely affect the cybersecurity space. On the quantum front, we are already starting to examine whether several cryptographic constructs (new or existing) are post-quantum secure. Technologies like AI, on the other hand, can significantly increase the capabilities of attackers and make it easier to create attack vectors. In any case, cybersecurity experts must pay close attention to the developments in these technologies and constantly adapt how they perform security reviews.
Let’s take a step back: how did you get into computer science? What do you love the most about it and Web3 security and, what if anything would you change?
I got into computer science because I love puzzles. During high school, I had a really hard time focusing on subjects that didn’t excite me. Then, I took an introductory programming course and everything clicked. Every new program was a new puzzle. Web3 security, and security in general, raises that to the n-th degree. You are faced with a system that is designed to do X and you are trying to find ways to make it do Y.
What can we find you doing when you’re not working?
Cooking, watching movies/shows, hitting the gym, and rowing (to burn the calories from all the cooking!).
What’s one book you’ll never stop recommending to people?
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Are there any blockchain/crypto/DeFi projects, or particular pieces of technology that excite you? What are they?
I’ll keep it broad here: anything ZK-related :) I find it fascinating how non-cryptographers can now create their own custom protocols by using any of the many new ZK languages and frameworks. Also, with new languages we have new types of bugs. And this is where we come in to make it easier for developers to reason about their programs!
You’re a European who moved to the USA. What’s the one thing that you find most different between these two continents, how would you compare life in Athens to life in Austin for example?
The list of differences are bottomless. The main difference to me is the pace of life. Some things move faster in one place and slower in the other and vice versa. Every time I visit home, I find myself adjusting for a little while to the Athens pace of life. Generally, I enjoy being a citizen in both continents as it exposes me to different cultures and constantly challenges me in new ways.
Pineapple on pizza: yes or no?
Even though I had pineapple on top of a flatbread with several other toppings (and it tasted good), calling it a pizza would be a betrayal to all the Italian chefs I follow and admire. So, no!
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