California, USA: Indian-American computer scientist Yuvraj Agarwal has been named a recipient of the 2025 Norm Hardy Prize for his pioneering contributions to intuitive and user-centered cybersecurity design.
The award, presented by the Foresight Institute, recognizes Agarwal’s work in developing a layered cybersecurity label for smart home devices. The initiative has significantly influenced U.S. consumer protection standards and federal policy related to connected technologies.
Agarwal shared the honor with researchers Pardis Emami-Naeini and Lorrie Faith Cranor for advancing usable security practices that help consumers make informed decisions about connected devices. Their research demonstrated that clear and accessible information regarding privacy protections and security updates plays a critical role in shaping purchasing behavior.
The layered label system presents essential protections such as authentication mechanisms, software update policies, and data handling practices in a concise primary format. Additional technical details are made available through a QR code or web link, allowing consumers to access deeper information without being overwhelmed.
Consumer testing indicated that the format improves product comparison and influences perceptions of cybersecurity risks, particularly regarding third-party data sharing practices.
The research directly informed the development of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, a federal labeling initiative overseen by the Federal Communications Commission. It also contributed to cybersecurity standards established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Consumer Reports.
The Norm Hardy Prize honors innovations that make secure behavior intuitive and practical in modern computing systems. Named after the late computer scientist Norm Hardy, the award highlights system designs that make secure choices the default option for users.
Yuvraj Agarwal is a tenured Associate Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University and Director of SynergyLabs. His research focuses on energy efficiency, privacy, and security in Internet of Things (IoT) systems and smart building technologies.
He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Pune University, followed by a Master’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.
Agarwal is a member of IEEE, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and USENIX, continuing to contribute to advancements in cybersecurity and connected systems research.
