My Research Work

Symbolic digital image processing, blockchain, and forensic verification graphic

Overview

My research focuses on signal processing methods for security, privacy, and authentication, with applications spanning digital provenance and multimedia forensics. The underlying goal across my research is practical trust: developing tools that perform reliably in real-world settings.

Publications

I. R. Barron and G. Sharma,

"Quashing Quishing Attacks Using Self-Authenticating Dual-Modulated QR Codes,"

IEEE Security & Privacy, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 26-34, Jan.-Feb. 2026.

I. R. Barron and G. Sharma,

"Optimized Modulation and Coding for Dual Modulated QR Codes,"

IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 32, pp. 2800-2810, 2023.

I. R. Barron, H. J. Yeh, K. Dinesh, and G. Sharma,

"Dual Modulated QR Codes for Proximal Privacy and Security,"

IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 30, pp. 657-669, 2021.

I. R. Barron and G. Sharma,

"Proximally Secure Communication in Public Settings Using Specialized Barcodes,"

Proc. IS&T Int'l. Symp. on Electronic Imaging: Media Watermarking, Security, and Forensics, vol. 33, pp. 346-1-346-7, Jan. 2021.

I. R. Barron and G. Sharma,

"Toward CanvasChain: A Blockchain and Craquelure Hash Based System For Authenticating and Tracking Fine Art Paintings,"

Proc. IS&T Int'l. Symp. on Electronic Imaging: Media Watermarking, Security, and Forensics, vol. 32, pp. 399-1-399-6, Jan. 2020.

Grants

National Science Foundation · $50,000 · Nov 2024-Oct 2026

I-Corps: Translation Potential of Enhanced Barcode Technologies

Co-PI with Prof. Gaurav Sharma (PI), University of Rochester

Media

NSF Discovery Files Stories · May 27, 2025

Solving the Problem of QR Codes

NSF Discovery Files Podcast · May 5, 2025

QR Code Security

University of Rochester News Center · Feb 11, 2025

New Technology Could Quash QR Code Phishing Attacks