Melanie Rieback facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melanie Rieback
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| Born | 26 October 1978 |
| Education | University of Miami (B.S., 2000) Delft University of Technology (M.S., 2003) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (PhD, 2008) |
| Occupation | Computer scientist |
Melanie R. Rieback (born October 26, 1978) is a smart computer scientist. She is best known for her work on keeping radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology safe and private.
Contents
About Melanie Rieback
Melanie Rieback was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 26, 1978. She grew up in Florida. Her parents, David John Rieback and Eileen Sharon Rieback, worked at a famous research lab called Bell Labs.
Melanie's Education
Melanie studied at the University of Miami. In 2000, she earned two degrees: one in Computer Science and one in Biology.
Later, she moved to the Netherlands. In 2003, she got her Master's degree in Computer Science from the Delft University of Technology.
She continued her studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 2008, she earned her PhD in Computer Science. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get.
Melanie's Work
What is RFID?
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification. It uses tiny tags and readers to identify things. Think of it like a barcode, but it can be read from a distance without needing to be seen.
RFID tags are used in many places. They are in things like passports, library books, and even some payment cards.
The RFID Guardian
When Melanie was a student, she worked on a project called the RFID Guardian. She wanted to show how important it is to keep RFID technology secure.
Melanie created the first "RFID virus." This virus showed that RFID systems could have security problems.
The RFID Guardian device can "jam" or block signals. This means RFID tags cannot be read from far away. It helps protect your privacy.
Melanie and her team wanted to make people aware of these security issues. They believed it was important to fix these problems.
Girl Geek Dinner NL
Melanie helped start Girl Geek Dinner NL. This group is part of a bigger organization called Girl Geek Dinners.
The goal is to encourage more women to work in technology and science. These fields are often thought of as being for men.
At the dinners, successful women in tech give talks. They share their experiences and answer questions. Men can also attend if a woman invites them.
Radically Open Security
Melanie Rieback also co-founded a company called Radically Open Security. She is the CEO of this company.
It is a special kind of company because it is a non-profit. This means they use their money to help others, not just to make a profit.
Their main goal is to make the internet and computer systems safer. They help other companies find and fix security weaknesses.
They even share their tools and methods online for free. This helps everyone learn how to be more secure, even if it means less business for them.
Human Genome Project
Before her work with RFID, Melanie worked on a very important science project. She helped with the Human Genome Project.
This project aimed to map out all the genes in humans. It was a huge step forward in understanding human biology and health.
Awards and Recognition
Melanie Rieback has received several awards for her work.
In 2010, she was a finalist for the ICT Professional of the Year Award. She was also named one of the most successful women in the Netherlands by Viva Magazine.
In 2016, Melanie was listed as one of the top fifty inspiring women in the Netherlands. This list is called "Inspiring Fifty: Netherlands 2016."
See also
In Spanish: Melanie Rieback para niños
