NSF AI Disclosure Required
NSF requires disclosure of AI tool usage in proposal preparation. Ensure you disclose the use of FindGrants' AI drafting in your application.
Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem
NSF
About This Grant
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are one of the most fundamental security and privacy tools that have found their way into regular Internet users' toolboxes. Despite widespread reliance on these tools, the mobile VPN ecosystem is rife with VPNs, posing several privacy and security issues. There is no visibility into the extent of the problems in mobile VPN apps beyond a few isolated examples based on manual reverse engineering efforts. The project’s novelties are new tools and methods to uncover hidden risks in mobile VPNs, which many people use to stay private online. The project’s broader significance and importance are in bringing together researchers, advocates, and VPN providers to better understand the risks and strengthen the safety and privacy of VPN services for everyone. This effort advances technical solutions needed for assessing and mitigating the risks associated with the mobile VPN ecosystem. The current Reverse engineering tools are less developed for mobile environments, and their effectiveness is further limited by the complexity of the mobile VPN ecosystem. This project facilitates systematic investigation into the mobile VPN ecosystem by understanding current practices and designing and building novel frameworks capable of conducting large-scale analysis. The project also uses this framework to explore and evaluate different components of the mobile VPN ecosystem, such as free VPNs. Finally, the project also focuses on advancing the understanding of detection and interference attacks on mobile VPNs. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Grant Summary
Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem is a NSF grant providing up to $125K for university, nonprofit, small business. Applications are due 2028-09-30 (open). Check eligibility and apply with FindGrants.
Focus Areas
Eligibility
How to Apply
Up to $125K
2028-09-30
- 1Confirm your organization is eligible for Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem from NSF, checking organization type, location, and any population or project requirements.
- 2Gather the required documents and information, including your organization details, project plan, and budget figures.
- 3Draft your application narrative and budget addressing the funder's priorities and review criteria. FindGrants can draft each section for you to review and edit.
- 4Review every section against the requirements checklist, then export a submission-ready application pack and submit it to NSF before the deadline.
Don't want to draft it yourself?
We'll draft the complete application against NSF's requirements, run a quality review, and email you a submission-ready PDF plus an editable Word doc within 5 business days. Most orders deliver in 24-48 hours. Flat $399, any grant size.
AI Requirement Analysis
Detailed requirements not yet analyzed
Have the NOFO? Paste it below for AI-powered requirement analysis.
Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem?
Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem is offered by NSF and is generally open to university, nonprofit, small business. It is open to organizations nationwide unless the funder specifies otherwise. Review the specific eligibility terms before applying, since funders set their own requirements around organization type, location, and the population or project being served.
How much funding does the Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem provide?
Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem provides up to $125K per award from NSF. Actual award sizes depend on the scope of your project, available program funds, and the number of applicants, so build a budget that reflects realistic, allowable costs rather than the maximum figure.
When is the Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem deadline?
Applications for Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem are due 2028-09-30 (open). Because deadlines can change, verify the date with the funder, NSF, and give yourself enough time to prepare a complete, competitive application before the close date.
How do you apply for the Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem?
To apply for Collaborative Research: SaTC: CORE: Medium: Uncovering and Mitigating Security and Privacy Threats in the Mobile VPN Ecosystem, confirm your eligibility, gather the required documents, and prepare a narrative and budget that address the funder's priorities. FindGrants guides you step by step and can draft each section, then exports a submission-ready application pack for this grant from NSF.