Personal profile
Profile Summary
Hani Ragab is a researcher and educator specialising in cybersecurity and developing machine learning-based approaches to cybersecurity problems, access control systems, and P2P-based systems. He has extensive experience in deep learning-based malware analysis and intrusion detection, designing and building authentication, authorisation, and access control systems from scratch. He led multiple research projects, supervised many PhDs, and published tens of research papers, many of which in top 5 cybersecurity venues. He is leading the research group on Cybersecurity with AI at the school of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University. He has also organised and run several CPD events on Cybersecurity (awareness and advanced topics), as well as AI awareness.
Research interests
Cybersecurity, Deep learning Applications to Cybersecurity, NLP Applications to Cybersecurity, Access Control, and P2P-based systems.
Key Research Words/Phrases
Malware Analysis, Intrusion Detection, DDoS on Cloud, Vulnerability Detection, SOC 2.0.
Roles & Responsibilities
Current roles:
- Cybersecurity, Networking, and AI Research Group Leader
- Associate Director of PGR Studies for MACS
- Academic Integrity and Discipline Officer
Past Roles:
- Associate Director of Learning & Teaching
- Associate Director of Research
- Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Programme Director of MSc Network Security
- Programme Director for BSc Computer Systems
Research interests
Cybersecurity, Deep learning Applications to Cybersecurity, NLP Applications to Cybersecurity, Access Control, and P2P-based systems.
Current PhD students at Heriot-Watt University:
- Biju Hameed
- Topic: Designing an actionable framework for airport cybersecurity.
- Supervision team: Prof. Hani Ragab Hassen, Dr. Hadj Batatia, Dr. Bushra Al Blooshi (external, head of Research and Development, Dubai Electronic Security Center).
- Mahmoud Elsheikh
- Topic: Natural Language Processing Approach to Vulnerability Detection in Source Code.
- Supervision team: Prof. Hani Ragab Hassen, Prof. Michael Lones, Dr. Arash Eshghi.
- Kayvan Karim
- Topic: Network-based Intrusion Detection System using Machine Learning.
- Supervision team: Prof. Hani Ragab Hassen, Dr. Hadj Batatia.
Past PhD students at Heriot-Watt University:
- Dr. Salih Ismail
- Topic: Reflection-based DDoS Attacks in the Cloud
- Supervision team: Prof. Hani Ragab Hassen, Dr. Mike Just, Prof. Hind Zantout
- Dr Ali Muzaffar
- Topic: Android Malware Detection Using Machine Learning
- Supervision team: Prof. Hani Ragab Hassen, Prof. Michael Lones, Prof. Hind Zantout
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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ActDroid: An active learning framework for Android malware detection
Muzaffar, A., Ragab Hassen, H., Zantout, H. & Lones, M. A., Jan 2026, In: Computers and Security. 160, 104724.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)2 Downloads (Pure) -
Optimization of Few-Shot Prompting Examples for Vulnerability Detection in Code
Elsheikh, M., Ragab Hassen, H. & Lones, M. A., 16 Jan 2026, (Accepted/In press) 10th International Conference on Machine Learning and Soft Computing. Springer, (Communications in Computer and Information Science).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
3 Downloads (Pure) -
Reassessing feature-based Android malware detection in a contemporary context
Muzaffar, A., Ragab Hassen, H., Zantout, H. & Lones, M. A., 20 Jan 2026, In: PLoS ONE. 21, 1, e0341013.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
A Modern Solution for Windows Malware Detection with Static PE Header Features
Alizada, A. & Hassen, H. R., 16 Dec 2025, 2025 9th Cyber Security in Networking Conference (CSNet). IEEE, 11288227Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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Large Language Model-Based Network Intrusion Detection
Davey, D., Karim, K., Hassen, H. R. & Batatia, H., 15 Jun 2025, Proceedings of International Conference on Information Technology and Applications - ICITA 2024. Ullah, A. & Anwar, S. (eds.). p. 309-319 11 p. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Datasets
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Android dataset for malware detection
Muzaffar, A. (Creator), Ragab Hassan, H. (Contributor), Lones, M. A. (Contributor) & Zantout, H. (Contributor), Heriot-Watt University, 2024
Dataset