Moti Yung is a prominent Israeli-American computer scientist and cryptographer renowned for his extensive contributions to cryptography, information security, and privacy. He currently serves as a Security and Privacy Research Scientist at Google and holds an adjunct senior research faculty position in the Department of Computer Science at Columbia University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1988 under the supervision of Zvi Galil.
Yung's research encompasses both theoretical and applied aspects of cryptography. He co-introduced the concepts of cryptovirology and kleptography with Adam L. Young in the mid-1990s, pioneering the understanding of how cryptographic techniques can be exploited maliciously, such as in ransomware attacks. His work has significantly influenced the development of secure systems and the anticipation of emerging threats.
Throughout his career, Yung has held positions at several leading institutions, including IBM Research, CertCo, RSA Laboratories, and Snap Inc. He has co-authored over 300 publications and holds numerous patents, collaborating with a wide network of researchers. Notably, he has mentored several doctoral students who have become prominent figures in the field, such as Matthew K. Franklin, Jonathan Katz, and Aggelos Kiayias.
Yung's achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including being named a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, IACR, and EATCS. He has received prestigious awards such as the IEEE Computer Society W. Wallace McDowell Award and the Computer Pioneer Award. In 2023, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, underscoring his impact on the scientific community.