Researchers interested in submitting a special issue proposal should adhere to the Special Content Submission Guidelines.

The International Journal on the Development and Application of Standards for Computers, Software Quality, Data Communications, Interfaces and Measurement

The quality of software, well-defined interfaces (hardware and software), the process of digitalisation, and accepted standards in these fields are essential for building and exploiting complex computing, communication, multimedia and measuring systems. Standards can simplify the design and construction of individual hardware and software components and help to ensure satisfactory interworking.

Computer Standards & Interfaces is an international journal dealing specifically with these topics.

The journal
• Provides information about activities and progress on the definition of computer standards, software quality, interfaces and methods, at national, European and international levels
• Publishes critical comments on standards and standards activities
• Disseminates user's experiences and case studies in the application and exploitation of established or emerging standards, interfaces and methods
• Offers a forum for discussion on actual projects, standards, interfaces and methods by recognised experts
• Stimulates relevant research by providing a specialised refereed medium.

Computer Standards & Interfaces is concerned with the specification, development and application of standards and with high-level publications of developments and methods in the following areas:
• Standards, Information Management, Formal Methods - Computers, Processors, Storage, Operating systems, Languages, Databases, Graphics, User interface, Multimedia, Information security, Office automation, Development of standards and instruments, Applications
• Software Quality, Software Process - Languages, Operating systems, Programming, Requirements specification, Design & implementation, Inspection & test, Maintenance, Product and process evaluation, Performance, Tools, Metrics, Embedded systems, Software in measurement and technical systems including real-time aspects, Development of International Standards in Software Engineering
• Distributed Systems, Open Systems, E-Topics - Digital interfaces, System and device buses, Fieldbuses, Data communication, Distributed computing, Protocols, Open systems interconnection, Local and wide area networks, Internet, Worldwide Web, Network security, Cryptology, E-services, E-business, E-commerce
• Data Acquisition - Analog-to-digital conversion, Specification, Modelling, Industrial electronics, Real-time systems, Laboratory automation, Automatic measurement, Process control, Electromagnetic compatibility
• Digital Instruments Standardisation - Forum of EUPAS, European Project for ADC-based devices, Standardisation (IMEKO TC-4 Working Group on A/D and D/A Converter Metrology), IEEE TC-10, IEC TC-42-WG8, IEC TC-85-WG16; Standardi-sation of specifications, modelling, testing, and analog and digital processing for digital instruments

The last issue of a volume includes an author index and a subject index.

CS&I also covers general topics concerning the standardisation process, such as technical, political and commercial aspects of standards, their impact on the marketplace, cost/benefit analyses, legislative issues, and relationships among national and international standards bodies.

Special Issue on Next-Generation Network and Social Media Security: Standards, Protocols, and Applications
Submission Date: 2026-08-01

The rapid evolution of the internet has led to the proliferation of complex networked systems and dynamic social media platforms, which are now integral to our daily lives. While these advancements offer unprecedented connectivity and data sharing, they also introduce significant and evolving challenges in security and privacy. Attackers are leveraging more sophisticated methods, and the sheer volume of data generated on social networks and by the Internet of Things (IoT) creates new vectors for malicious activities, privacy breaches, and information manipulation.

As our reliance on these digital infrastructures deepens, the need for robust security standards, intelligent defense systems, and privacy-preserving protocols has become more critical than ever. Issues such as ensuring the integrity of networked systems, securing mobile and cloud environments, and protecting users from threats within social media demand continuous innovation from the research community.

Guest editors:

A/Prof. Jiageng Chen, Central China Normal University (China)
Research interest: cryptography, privacy-preserving computing, and network security.

Prof. Tianqing Zhu, City University of Macau (China)
Research interest: AI security and privacy-preserving technologies, with a focus on intelligent model security, data privacy, and fairness.

Prof. Chunpeng Ge, Shandong University (China)
Research interest: information security, privacy-preserving cloud computing, blockchain, and AI security

Special issue information:

This special issue aims to bring together leading-edge research that addresses the multifaceted security and privacy challenges in modern network systems and social media. We seek to provide a premier forum for researchers and practitioners to present their latest findings, fostering interaction and collaboration across academia and industry. We invite the submission of high-quality, original research papers that explore theoretical and practical aspects of network, system, and social security. The issue will welcome extended versions of top papers from the NSS-SocialSec2025 conference (https://nsclab.org/nss-socialsec2025/), as well as new, independent submissions.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Social Media & Data Security

    Security and Privacy in Social Networks, including mobile social networks
    Secure Messaging Protocols and End-to-End Encryption
    Modeling and Detection of Malicious Behavior and Information Propagation in Social Media
    Big Data Security, Privacy, and Forensics
    Trust and Reputation Management in Social Systems
    Security and Privacy for the Metaverse

Privacy and AI in Security

    Privacy-Enhancing Technologies and Anonymity
    Applied Cryptography for Big Data and Secure Communications
    Trustworthy, Explainable, and Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning
    Applications of AI for Cybersecurity, Threat Intelligence, and Attack Prediction
    Federated Learning Protocols and Systems Security
    Security and Privacy for Digital Health and User Centric Systems

Network & System Security

    Network Attacks and Defenses, including Intrusion Detection and Prevention
    Mobile Security, Malware/Ransomware Analysis, and Digital Forensics
    Analysis, Formal Verification, and Fuzzy Testing for Network Protocols and Systems
    Hardware Security, including Side-Channel Attacks and Confidential Computing
    Blockchain Protocols, Smart Contract Security, and Blockchain-powered Applications

Manuscript submission information:

Submission Deadline: 1st August 2026