- Name: Liina Kamm
- Position: Senior Researcher
- Operating System: MacOS for work, Windows for gaming
- Nationality: Estonian
We had a lovely chat with our Senior Researcher, Liina, to hear all about how she got into IT, why she cares so much about online privacy, and what makes teaching cyber hygiene to kids so important. She reads a lot of books, loves a good video game, and prefers cats over dogs. Read on to find out what her job’s really like, what song she thinks suits her office best, and why she’s glad she didn’t become a genetic engineer!
If you had to explain your job to a five-year-old, how would you do it?
I investigate how to keep people safe on the internet. I find out where our data goes online and how we can protect it, so we can use the internet without any worries.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love that my job is so varied! I get to teach students and children, write articles, speak at conferences, dive deep into interesting topics and put together summaries, design and analyse systems... there’s always something new to do. I also supervise students and lead a team. One of the best parts is the freedom in research – I can apply for all sorts of projects that fit with Cybernetica’s goals, and I get to explore the kind of science I’m really excited about.
How did you get started in the IT field?
In my final year of high school, we had to choose our final exams, and I picked loads of them because I had no idea what I wanted to do. At first, I thought maybe I could become a genetic engineer. But then I found out it involved loads of memorising – and I wasn't a big fan of learning things by heart!
That’s when I started thinking that IT might be the right path, since it seemed like the kind of field where you could use logic instead of cramming facts. Funnily enough, my mum was a programmer when I was little. She worked from home, often late into the night. I remember her debugging code printed out on a matrix printer because the screens were so bad back then, she couldn’t read them properly! She’d go through the code line by line on paper. I remember thinking: “That’s one job I’m never going to do!”
But when my exam results came in, I was totally sure – I wanted to study computer science, and nothing else. I loved that it was all about solving problems with logic. Sure, there were still a few things to memorise, but I’ve never regretted my choice!
If your office had a theme song, what would it be?
“Still Alive” – the wonderfully ironic, science-themed song from the end of the video game Portal.
Which tech trend excites you the most right now?
I really like that we’ve reached a point where people actually want to use more privacy-enhancing technologies – and bring them into real life too. At Cybernetica, and personally as well, we’ve been working on secure multiparty computation for quite a while now – building it, using it – and it’s finally making its way into real-world solutions.
Of course, I have to mention artificial intelligence – you just can’t avoid it these days! It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s amazing how quickly AI has developed lately – there’s been a big leap, and we can already see how it’s being used across different fields by all kinds of people. For example, my grandmother wouldn’t need secure multiparty computation, but she could use AI to look things up or explore topics she’s curious about.
That said, we do need to use AI carefully and with awareness. People should know that AI doesn’t always give the right answers – there can be mistakes. And when you enter data into it, it’s important to understand where that data goes. The average person might not know if their data stays on their own device or goes off into the cloud. That’s why I’m also trying to help educate people about AI and how to use it safely.
If you weren’t in IT, what career would you have pursued? Why?
In my first years studying computer science, it was a bit tough to keep up with classmates who came from science-focused schools or had done maths olympiads – I went to a humanities school, so I hadn’t studied as much maths. At the same time, I was also studying conference interpreting. That was my plan B! So if I hadn’t chosen a career in IT, I think I would’ve become a simultaneous interpreter.
Do you have any hobbies or side projects?
I absolutely love reading – last year I read 150 books! That’s about three books a week. I read physical books, listen to audiobooks, and also read aloud to my kids. When I was in the US last year, I had lots of long train rides and travel time, which meant even more time for reading.
I also enjoy playing computer games. Since I have kids, I can’t play everything – they’re at that age where some games are a bit too scary and then they can’t sleep... but of course, they really want to watch! So I usually save certain games for after they’ve gone to bed – though by then, I often start nodding off myself. I have to plan gaming time properly! It took me quite a while to finish Witcher 3, because I couldn’t really play it with the kids around – too many questions and too much going on.
One of the first games I really loved as a kid was Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis – a classic LucasArts adventure game. I played it through five times! It was the first game I ever finished on my own, without help. I was never a big fan of racing games, but I did enjoy Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge. I played it with a friend, and I actually managed to win – probably because it was more beginner-friendly!
Besides books and games, I also love movies. And for exercise, I go swimming and enjoy playing volleyball – both are great ways to unwind and have fun!
You’re teaching cyber-hygiene to children? Why is this important to you?
These days, kids do so much online – they’re constantly sharing information, chatting, posting, and exploring. When I was growing up, the internet was only just becoming a thing, and I didn’t start using it until I was a teenager. I was quite naive back then – I visited some chatrooms without really understanding what was going on. Looking back, I definitely would’ve benefited from someone teaching me how to be safe online, but the internet just wasn’t that accessible yet.
Now, kids can jump online instantly. They have chatrooms with friends, social media accounts, TikTok – so many digital spaces where they spend their time. When we send children out into the real world, we teach them to look both ways before crossing the street – but we don’t always give them the same kind of guidance for the online world. We should.
I also think children sometimes don’t realise that being unkind online is the same as bullying in real life. They might say things on the internet they’d never say to someone’s face. That’s why I feel it’s important to talk about these things in a way kids can understand and relate to. When they know the risks and how to be kind and careful online, they not only feel safer themselves but can also support their friends.
If children learn about cyber hygiene early on, it can help prevent problems now and in the future. Kids are super creative and speak the language of the internet so naturally – and I believe the ones who use it safely can enjoy it even more, while avoiding big mistakes and unnecessary stress.
Are you a cat or dog person? Why do you resonate more with cats/dogs?
I’m more of a cat person. I don’t mind dogs at all – they’re lovely too – but I like that cats are more independent. You can leave them at home and not worry so much, they’ll be just fine. They don’t need constant attention, and they’re great company for quiet moments – like curling up in your lap while you read a book.
If Liina’s story inspired you, why not see where your own journey could take you? Check out our open positions and join us in making the internet a safer place with cutting-edge privacy technologies and a passionate team. We’d love to hear from you!