At IITB Trust Lab, students are not just working on research problems—they’re learning how to ask the right questions, build responsibly, and think critically about the future of digital systems. Through guided internships, open-source collaborations, and hands-on platforms like PULSE Labs and Security Operations Centers, the Lab is steadily nurturing a new generation of engineers and researchers who approach cybersecurity and digital trust with both depth and purpose.

One such student is Het Joshi, whose association with IITB Trust Lab builds on his deep interest in system-level thinking and hands-on learning. His early engagement with Linux—initially through dual-booting out of curiosity—soon expanded into a broader exploration of how hardware and software interact. Known for carrying a screwdriver with him wherever he goes, Het has always believed in learning by doing, often by examining devices considered “black boxes.”

In 2022, Het founded Mukti, a student-led initiative focused on open-source software, liberated hardware, and cybersecurity. Designed to encourage exploration beyond academic syllabi, Mukti created space for students to engage with foundational concepts and contribute to open projects. Over time, the group grew into a pan-India community with over 1500 members, four branches, and support from organizations like FOSS United and FSMK, along with numerous campus communities.

Het’s introduction to the IITB Trust Lab came in early 2024 through FOSSX, an event that brought together students, developers, and researchers. Mukti partnered as a knowledge collaborator, and Het played a key role in coordinating student teams, refining project ideas, and reviewing white paper submissions. The collaboration offered a practical view into how academic research can support—and be supported by—community-led initiatives in digital trust.

Later that year, Het joined IITB Trust Lab as a security research intern under Prof. Devashish Gosain. His current research focuses on analyzing privacy and performance aspects of port forwarding tools. The project involves studying how data is transmitted, the robustness of encryption methods, and identifying potential security weaknesses, along with benchmarking performance indicators such as latency and bandwidth use. Het is the first author of a research paper on this work, which is currently being prepared for submission to the Internet Measurements Conference 2025.

In addition to his main research, Het has contributed to several side projects that reflect IITB Trust Lab’s wide scope of interests:

• Kavaach – Securing EV charging infrastructure in India by analyzing and strengthening the OCPP protocol
• Web Server Honeypots – Tools that simulate vulnerable environments to study live cyber threats
• RAIDing the Fort – A security initiative focusing on Fiber Channel and Storage Area Network (SAN) protocols

Het credits the IITB Trust Lab environment—marked by technical depth, mentorship, and peer support—as a key factor in his growth. “It’s a place where everyone is invested in solving real-world problems and open to exchanging ideas,” he notes.

As he prepares to begin his Master’s studies, Het plans to maintain his connection with IITB Trust Lab—whether through collaborative research, continued project contributions, or joint publications. His upcoming areas of focus include systems security, embedded security, and post-quantum cryptography.

Through students like Het, IITB Trust Lab continues to build more than just solutions—it is building capability, confidence, and a pipeline of researchers who are ready to engage with the future of digital security on their own terms.