Cybersecurity Professor Xiaofeng Wang and Wife Missing Amid FBI Investigation

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Xiaofeng Wang, a cybersecurity professor at Indiana University, has mysteriously disappeared along with his wife, Nianli Ma. Their profiles were erased from the university's website shortly before FBI agents conducted raids on their homes in Bloomington and Carmel, Indiana, on March 31, 2025. The FBI confirmed it executed court-authorized searches but provided no further comment regarding the nature of the investigation.

Wang, recognized for his extensive work in cryptography and data privacy, has held a significant position at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, managing research projects totaling approximately $23 million over his 21-year career. Both he and Ma had their digital presence removed just weeks before the FBI's actions, leaving unanswered questions about their employment status and the reason behind the investigation.

Concerns among peers have escalated, with Matthew Green, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, expressing alarm over Wang’s disappearance and the unusual removal of his online profiles. Indiana University officials have refrained from commenting, while the FBI has not disclosed details about any potential charges or detentions related to Wang or Ma.

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