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Eric Burger in the News

Read stories about Eric Burger or reports in which he’s quoted.


Eric Burger elected fellow of National Academy of Inventors

Eric Burger, the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) research director,  has been named a 2023 fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. 

Six Virginia Tech faculty elected AAAS Fellows

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world’s largest general scientific societies, named Eric Burger as an AAAS Fellow.

CCI researcher leads congressional briefing on encryption

Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) Research Director Eric Burger moderated “PGP” (Pretty Good Policy) for Crypto, a congressional briefing on the importance of encryption, to mark Global Encryption Day.

Internet Society Reappoints Burger to Public Interest Registry Board of Directors

The Internet Society announced the re-appointment of Eric Burger to serve a three-year term on the Public Interest Registry Board beginning June 2024.

Virginia Tech celebrates Innovation, entrepreneurship, and service

Virginia Tech honored faculty-led accomplishments in innovation, entrepreneurship, and service at the annual Celebrating Innovation event. Among them was Eric Burger (National Academy of Inventors Fellow), who  has pioneered voice over intellectual property applications.

FCC ban on AI in robocalls might not be enough to stop  realistic, targeted scams

“In aggregate, it’s mind-boggling how much is lost to fraud perpetuated through robocalls,” says Eric Burger, research director of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative at Virginia Tech.

When the White House Calls

A call from the Federal Communications Commission interrupted Eric Burger’s career in research and development and academia to become the Chief Technical Officer of the Federal Communications Commission—the principal technology advisor to the commission.

Top technology leader joins Commonwealth Cyber Initiative

Former chief technology officer for the Federal Communications Commission Eric W. Burger is joining the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) and Virginia Tech as a research professor.

Crypto in the News: What is Going On?

Get perspective on the current state of crypto with a discussion between longtime MIT Media Lab Chief Knowledge Officer and current Chief Innovation Officer at MobileCoin Henry Holtzman, and moderator Eric Burger, Virginia Tech Professor and former FCC CTO. 

Georgetown Center To Use $1 Million Grant To Expand Its Multidisciplinary Cyber Research

The National Science Foundation selected the Cyber SMART Research Center as an Industry University Cooperative Research Center, awarding it a $1 million grant to expand its capacity for multidisciplinary cyber research. Eric Burger is a principal investigator.

How an Apple passcode has foiled the FBI

As smartphones evolved into powerful mini-computers storing troves of personal, location and financial data, the need to safeguard them has soared. Phones today are better protected than they’ve ever been. “You have to go out of your way to not have a passcode,” said Eric Burger. “We’re much better off.”

Howard University Ransomware Attack Prompts Georgetown To Take Additional Precautions

A ransomware cyberattack disrupted Howard University’s systems, forcing it to take its systems offline. If blackmailers demand a payment, administrators face a difficult decision, says Eric Burger, a computer science research professor. “If they say half a million dollars … Howard is in a really tough spot: Are we going to spend a week rebuilding our systems or are we going to pay?”

Eric Burger joins Office of Science and Technology Policy

Eric Burger has accepted a position as Assistant Director for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). In this role, he will take responsibility for the telecommunications and cybersecurity portfolios. 

Beating Back Unwanted Robocalls (co-author Eric Burger)

In the three minutes it takes to read this story, American consumers will receive about 350,000 unwanted calls to their homes, businesses, and mobile phones. Of those 350,000 unwanted calls, an estimated 47%, or 164,500 calls, are illegal — scams aimed at tricking the hurried, the trusting, and the vulnerable consumer.

Podcast: Money’s the Answer. What’s the Question?

Discussion on the Dave and Gunnar Show.

Branded Calling and Impact on Consumer Behavior

“Issues for Measuring Call Branding on Consumer Behavior and Economic Outcomes”, co-authored by industry expert Dr. Eric Burger and his Research Assistant Rishabh Rastogi, details the importance of STIR/SHAKEN and data showing the positive impact branded calls can have on businesses and the customer experience.