Cyberstark: THA Professor of IT Security Calls for a More Positive Approach to Cybersecurity Through a Music Video

The “music career” of Dominik Merli, professor of IT security at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg (THA), is entering its second round. After his security parody of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” has garnered more than 57,000 views on YouTube to date, Professor Merli is now releasing an original song titled “Cyberstark.” 

“Cyberstark” and its accompanying music video focus on the role of people in cybersecurity. Merli explains: “Many decision-makers think that the problem usually sits in front of the screen. I see it differently. People are not a flaw in the system. Cyberstark people make organizations resilient.”

The 2026 Security Song “Cyberstark” on YouTube

Merli explains what “cyberstark” means as follows: “If we want to draw real attention to cybersecurity, we need to communicate with more joy and humor, rather than with fear and doomsday scenarios. That’s why the song represents a positive approach to cybersecurity. People who are ‘cyberstark’ aren’t a vulnerability—they’re the greatest strength for the economy and society in the fight against cybercrime!” “Cyberstark”

is not just meant to be an anthem for cybersecurity. The song is also a call to action for companies and other organizations to raise their employees’ awareness of cybersecurity. Merli says: “Awareness of the importance of cybersecurity isn’t created simply by companies requiring their employees to take an online course once a year. Security is more than just one quiz a year! Instead, employees need cybersecurity training tailored to their specific roles. If you force a production worker who doesn’t even have their own computer to attend a phishing training session, it often leads to annoyance, frustration, and confusion—exactly what we don’t want to achieve.”

However, according to Merli, factual knowledge of cybersecurity alone is not enough: “Even a good understanding of the subject doesn’t automatically lead to secure behavior. For that to happen, cybersecurity must become a natural part of the corporate culture.”

In the music video for “Cyberstark,” Prof. Merli plays several roles. He appears as MC BlackHat, the evil hacker in the black hoodie who’s convinced he can fool anyone, all while comfortably sipping a cocktail on the beach. He also plays an employee who falls victim to a cyberattack. Another new character is DJ Merli, who encourages people to discover their “cyberstark” side, trust in it, and face the challenges of cybersecurity with a positive attitude.

Merli says: “It was important to me to show that cyberattacks can happen to anyone—even a professor of IT security. There are times when we let our guard down because we’re exhausted or have a hundred other things on our minds. That can happen. The important thing is this: Just because we’re not perfect doesn’t mean we should lose our cyber courage. Cyber-resilient people never give up in the fight against cybercriminals!”

The music video marks the launch of an awareness and information campaign on the topic of people and cybersecurity. To this end, Merli is using platforms such as the professional network LinkedIn and other initiatives to draw attention to the human factor in cybersecurity. The goal is to share the latest research findings so that they can be incorporated into corporate practices. Interested organizations can obtain a free license to use the song “Cyberstark” in seminars and events at https://www.tha.de/cyberstark.

In May 2025, the song “Cyber Gangsta’s Paradise” and its accompanying music video premiered. The song and the subsequent awareness campaign were intended to raise awareness of the required minimum cybersecurity standards for connected products.

Merli sums up the success as follows: “The feedback on ‘Cyber Gangsta’s Paradise’ was overwhelmingly positive. More than 57,000 views, around 3,000 likes, and 300 comments. On top of that, we received inquiries from SMEs to large corporations. Finally, people were talking about the supposedly boring topic of cybersecurity and the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act.”

A look back at 2025: Prof. Dr. Dominik Merli’s first big hit, “Cyber Gangsta’s Paradise,” on YouTube. 

The Institute for Innovative Security at Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg (THA_innos) helps organizations of all sizes operate safely and sustainably in an interconnected world. Through the institute’s innovative approaches, systems, products, and personnel become resilient against digital threats to the economy and society.