CICS 597C Introduction to Computer Security

Syllabus

  • When: March 20-May 24, 2018. This is a 3-credit, semester-length course.
  • Where: This is an online course, and in-person  attendance is not required of students. However, there is a weekly session that students can attend in-person (in Amhert) or via video-conference (e.g., zoom or skype).  
  • Instructor: Dr. Parviz Kermani
  • This class can be applied towards the Information Security Certificate or as an outside elective for the CS MS degree.

This course provides an introduction to the principles and practice of computer and network security with a focus on both fundamentals and practical information. The key topics of this course are applied cryptography; protecting users, data, and services; network security, and common threats and defense strategies. Students will complete several practical lab assignments involving security tools (e.g., OpenSSL, Wireshark, Malware detection). The course includes homework assignments, quizzes, and exams. 

Textbook: Network Security Essentials: Applications and Standards (6th Edition) by William Stallings (Pearson)

  • Fundamentals 
    • Basic definitions (security; confidentiality, integrity, authentication, availability, etc)
    • Ethics
    • Policy basics
    • Threat and risk basics
    • Recovery from attacks
  • Applied Cryptography
    • Symmetric-key crypto
    • Cryptographic hash functions
    • Public/private key cryptography
  • Protecting users, data, and services
    • Passwords and user authentication
    • Brief introduction to Kerberos
    • Encrypted file systems
  • Network security
    • TCP/IP networking basics 
    • Port scanning
    • Transport-Level Security; SSL/TLS
    • Network Attacks: BGP, DNS, DoS
    • Wi-Fi security
  • Threats and Mitigation
    • Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems
    • Online Tracking, VPNs, and Tor
    • Phishing 
    • Malware: Viruses and Rootkits 
    • Malware: Worms and Botnets 

 

 

 

 

Credits: 
3
Date: 
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 to Thursday, May 25, 2017
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 to Thursday, May 24, 2018
Class meets on: 
Online
Instructor: 
Parviz Kermani
CompSci
Graduate