Dr Ali Farooq
Lecturer
Computer and Information Sciences
Personal statement
I am a Lecturer in Cyber Security at the University of Strathclyde, with a research and teaching focus on understanding and improving the relationship between people, technology and security. My work is driven by a simple principle: cybersecurity is most effective when designed around the people who use, manage, and are affected by it. I am particularly interested in translating research into practical approaches that improve security, usability, trust and resilience in real-world settings. Increasingly, my work explores how emerging AI technologies can augment human capabilities and enable more effective, adaptive, and inclusive approaches to cybersecurity.
If you are interested in doing PhD in the above-mentioned areas, feel free to contact me!
Prize And Awards
- Senior Member (SMIEEE)
- Recipient
- 2024
- Social Media Research Award (Runner up)
- Recipient
- 2022
- Best Paper Runner up
- Recipient
- 2019
- Prime Minister's Commendation Certificate
- Recipient
- 2009
Publications
- Not all consent is equal : how design and cynicism shape users’ privacy decisions
- Dahabiyeh Laila, Najjar Mohammad S, Farooq Ali
- Computers and Security Vol 171 (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2026.105084
- Understanding user engagement with cross-platform social media content created by humans versus AI : an evaluation of ChatGPT in content marketing
- Aldous Kholoud, Salminen Joni, Farooq Ali, Jung Soon-Gyo, Jansen Bernard
- ACM Transactions on the Web Vol 20, pp. 1-27 (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1145/3756014
- Evolving technology use and embeded security practices among Finnish adolescents : a longitudinal study
- Farooq Ali, Khan Naurin Farooq, Aldahdouh Tahani Z, Tamime Reham Al, Mannikko Niko, Virtanen Seppo, Isoaho Jouni
- Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies Vol 2026 (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1155/hbe2/5929363
- The Human Side of Digital Transformation: Understanding Behaviour in the Age of AI
- Farooq Ali
- International Conference on Digital Transformation, Innovation & Sustainable Development 2026 (2026)
- The effect of religiosity and cultural conservatism on digital privacy concerns : A comparative longitudinal study of five Arab countries
- Haider Waseem, Martin Justin, Farooq Ali, Salminen Joni, Jansen Bernard J
- International Communication Gazette Vol 88, pp. 284-316 (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1177/17480485251374883
- Does negative buzz result in social media discontinuation? : Investigating the effects of negative word of mouth in the United States, India, and Finland
- Farooq Ali, Salminen Joni, Dahabiyeh Laila, Javed Yousra, Jansen Bernard J
- Technology in Society Vol 84 (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103103
Research Interests
My research interests lie at the intersection of human-centred security, behavioural cybersecurity and Human–AI collaboration. I investigate how AI can work alongside people to improve cybersecurity decision-making, awareness, and security practices while preserving human agency, oversight, trust, and accountability. My current research explores how to design and evaluate different forms of human–AI collaboration for cybersecurity contexts, including how people understand, trust, and respond to AI-supported security decisions. The broader aim is to develop innovative, evidence-based approaches in which AI augments rather than replaces human expertise, contributing to cybersecurity solutions that are more effective, usable, trustworthy, and resilient.
Investigating the effects of the dark side of technology, such as information overload and techno-stress, on well-being and security-related behaviours is also close to my heart.
Professional Activities
- Cross-Faculty Connections: Growing Networks and Building Opportunities with and for Children and Young People
- Participant
- 26/2/2026
- Panel: Incident Response & Recovery
- Chair
- 4/2/2026
- From Buzz to Bye: Unpacking Social Media Discontinuation in the Wake of Privacy Shifts – Lessons from WhatsApp
- Speaker
- 8/1/2026
- International Journal of Human Computer Studies (Journal)
- Editor
- 2026
- Amel Bourdocen
- Host
- 26/11/2025
- Internet Interventions (Journal)
- Peer reviewer
- 10/2025
Projects
- Addressing Privacy Risks and Legal Challenges in the Emergent Use of Text-based Generative AI for UK Research (REPHRAIN)
- Moncur, Wendy (Principal Investigator) Farooq, Ali (Co-investigator) Farooq, Ali (Co-investigator) Gibson, Ryan (Research Co-investigator) Gibson, Ryan (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2024
- Addressing Privacy Risks and Legal Challenges in the Emergent Use of Text-based Generative AI for UK Research (REPHRAIN)
- Moncur, Wendy (Principal Investigator) Farooq, Ali (Co-investigator) Farooq, Ali (Co-investigator) Gibson, Ryan (Research Co-investigator) Gibson, Ryan (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2024
Contact
Dr
Ali
Farooq
Lecturer
Computer and Information Sciences
Email: ali.farooq@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted