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CS915 Advanced Computer Security

CS915 15 CATS 7.5 ECTS Term 1

Availability

Option - MSc CS, MSc DA, MEng CS, MEng DM

Academic Aims

The module aims to provide students with a thorough grounding in computer security. The module will look at security from a system wide perspective, from language-based security to network security, via operating system security. We will also aim to cover new areas such as quantum cryptography, proof-carrying code etc.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module the student should be able to:

  • General: Understand the various security concepts such as confidentiality, privacy etc.
  • Understand various security models.
  • Understand the notion of security policy enforcement and classes of policies that runtime enforceable.
  • Understand the workings of firewalls.
  • Understand security in distributed systems.
  • Understand notions of security in E-commerce.
  • Understand the technologies and techniques that support bitcoin.
  • Understand source location privacy in wireless sensor networks.

Content

  • Threats and Security policy models.
  • Security automata, edit automata
  • Network security: Firewall design.
  • Distributed system security.
  • Fair exchange.
  • Bitcoin.
  • Source location privacy.

Books

  • Bishop M, Introduction to Computer Security, 2004, Addison-Wesley.
  • Pfleeger C and Pfleeger S, Security in Computing, 1997

Assessment

Two hour examination (70%), coursework (30%)

Teaching

30 one-hour lectures plus 10 one-hour seminars