MS CIO Master's Reports

MS CIO master’s reports provide an opportunity for students to showcase what they have mastered in the program.

The master’s report should have practical significance and requires implementation of graduate course material. The report captures application of new or existing methodologies to a current industry or a community-oriented problem. The specific topic of the report and progress towards its completion will be developed by the graduate faculty member and each student individually.

Recent Master's Projects

View a select sample of recent MS CIO master's reports:

MASTER'S PROJECT	FACULTY ADVISOR
AI-Driven Advanced Malware Creation: Challenges in Modern Cybersecurity This report explores the offensive use of GenAI in the creation of sophisticated, adaptive and evasive malware. Unlike traditional malware, which often relies on static signatures and predictable behaviors, AI-generated malware can autonomously modify its code, evade detection in real time and adapt to varying environments. Focusing on an offensive perspective, this report does not cover defensive strategies in depth but aims to highlight the growing threat posed by AI-driven cyberattacks. Through a comprehensive literature review, the report examines malware classification, including polymorphic, metamorphic and advanced AI-enhanced malware types. Keywords: Generative AI, AI-Generated Malware, Polymorphic Malware, Metamorphic Malware, Offensive Cybersecurity, Advanced Evasion Techniques, DeepLocker, BlackMamba, EyeSpy, ChattyCat, RATGPT, Occupy AI	Josh Pauli
Risk Assessment of US Domain Maritime Smart Ports That Have Foreign Investments This report examines cybersecurity vulnerabilities across US maritime ports, focusing on those classified as smart ports along with those with foreign investments. Using open source intelligence (OSINT), the study analyzes 690 domestic maritime ports, revealing the presence foreign-manufactured cranes with remote capabilities, unsecured systems that increase the risk of cyberattacks and the role that foreign controlled ports play. The findings highlight the need for stronger cybersecurity frameworks and further research into foreign involvement within US ports. Keywords: Smart ports, Cybersecurity, OSINT, ZPMC cranes	Dalal Alharthi

MASTER'S PROJECT

FACULTY ADVISOR

AI-Driven Advanced Malware Creation: Challenges in Modern Cybersecurity
This report explores the offensive use of GenAI in the creation of sophisticated, adaptive and evasive malware. Unlike traditional malware, which often relies on static signatures and predictable behaviors, AI-generated malware can autonomously modify its code, evade detection in real time and adapt to varying environments. Focusing on an offensive perspective, this report does not cover defensive strategies in depth but aims to highlight the growing threat posed by AI-driven cyberattacks. Through a comprehensive literature review, the report examines malware classification, including polymorphic, metamorphic and advanced AI-enhanced malware types.

Keywords: Generative AI, AI-Generated Malware, Polymorphic Malware, Metamorphic Malware, Offensive Cybersecurity, Advanced Evasion Techniques, DeepLocker, BlackMamba, EyeSpy, ChattyCat, RATGPT, Occupy AI

Josh Pauli

Risk Assessment of US Domain Maritime Smart Ports That Have Foreign Investments
This report examines cybersecurity vulnerabilities across US maritime ports, focusing on those classified as smart ports along with those with foreign investments. Using open source intelligence (OSINT), the study analyzes 690 domestic maritime ports, revealing the presence foreign-manufactured cranes with remote capabilities, unsecured systems that increase the risk of cyberattacks and the role that foreign controlled ports play. The findings highlight the need for stronger cybersecurity frameworks and further research into foreign involvement within US ports.

Keywords: Smart ports, Cybersecurity, OSINT, ZPMC cranes

Dalal Alharthi

Ready to excel in the high-demand field of cybersecurity?

Learn more about the Master of Science in Cyber and Information Operations by contacting us at infosci-grad@arizona.edu, or review the admissions process and begin your application now:

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