CECS 478
Introduction to Computer Security
Fall 2018
Course Meeting Time and Location
TuTh 2-2:50PM ECS-308
TuTh 3-4:15PM ECS-403
Instructor
Email: mehrdad.aliasgari at csulb.edu
Office: ECS-550
Office hours: Wednesdays 1-2pm and Thursdays 4-5pm or by appointment
Required Textbook
Computer Security - Principles and Practice , 4th Edition by William Stalllings and Lawrie Brown, 2017.
Course Goals
· Understand the meaning and risks of computer security
· Apply problem solving skills to recognize and solve security problems
· Understand, recognize and know how to avoid the main security vulnerabilities
· Make ethical decisions with respect to computer security and user privacy
· Know how to design and analyze a secure computer system in general.
Course Topics
· Overview (Ch. 1)
· Elementary Cryptography - Substitutions / Permutations (Ch. 2)
· Symmetric, Assymmetric Encryption, DES, Rijndael (Ch. 20)
· Public Key Encryption, RSA, Digital Signatures (Ch. 21)
· User Authentication (Ch. 3)
· Access Control (Ch. 4)
· Database Security (Ch. 5)
· Malicious Software (Ch. 6)
· Buffer Overflow (Ch. 10)
· Software Security (Ch. 11)
· Ethics and Privacy (Ch. 19)
· Network Security - Internet Security protocols and Standards (Ch. 22)
· Network Security - Internet Authentication Applications (Ch. 23)
· Denial of Service Attacks (Ch. 7)
· Operating System Security (Ch. 12)
Grading
Your final grades are comprised of the following components: Class Participation 10%, Quizzes 20%, Homework 15%, Exam 25%, Projects (Reports and Demos) 30%.
Quizzes/Homework Labs are due at the beginning of a class with no exception.
Please note that all course materials are distributed through BeachBoard.
Document submission is done only via Dropbox in BeachBoard. No material will be accepted if submitted via email or hardcopy.
There is NO late submission.
Projects
You will be doing multiple projects throughout the semester. You will need to create a github repository to host all codes and documentation of your work. The repos are shared with the rest of class on BeachBoard (under Discusssion). In addition to your code and documentation, a demo is also required. Projects' requirements and details will be posted on BeachBoard (under Content). Please do not hesitate to contact the instructor should you have any question or seek any help.
Exam Schedule
Thursday, December 13, 12:30PM - 2:30PM
Attendance Policy
Attendance is required since part of your final grade depends on class participation and quizzes.
Note: There will be no make-ups for missed quizzes.
Exam make-ups are “not” allowed (early or late). However, some consideration will be given to students who miss an exam due to a personal or family emergency, as long as a “valid” proof is provided. Students who have to miss an exam for a valid reason should notify the instructor before exam time if at all possible.
Student Feedback
Please feel free to contact the instructor to share any concern or opinion about the course throughout the semester. There will be anonymous surveys conducted via BeachBoard as a means of having students' voice heard (anonymously). Your participation is highly encouraged.
Academic Integrity and Dishonesty
Read here for cheating and plagiarism and their definitions.
It is the student's responsibility to familiarize themselves with what constitutes cheating or plagiarism through the above university articles or other accepted tools. There is zero tolerance for cheating or plagiarism. Any act that is to be deemed cheating or plagiarism may result in failing the course and at the minimum losing a considerable portion of the final grade.
Withdrawal Policy
Please read here.
Emergency Preparedness Instructions
Please read here.
Disabilities
DISABLED STUDENT SERVICES is a student support program within the Student Services Division. Our mission is to assist students with disabilities as they secure their university degrees at California State University, Long Beach. We provide services to over 13,000 students each semester. Over 3,000 students with disabilities have graduated from CSU Long Beach with support from our program.
The Disabled Student Services office is located on the 2nd floor in the Administration Building, room SS/AD 270
It is your responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of any need for special accommodation due to a university verified disability.
Honors Students:
Honors courses are different from most undergraduate offerings both in content and in the way they are taught. Honors courses include a heavy emphasis on theory and/or address complex issues. The assigned readings are normally scholarly works, both books and articles, rather than textbooks. Class time is devoted to discussions designed to give students the opportunity for independent interpretation and analysis. The emphasis is on written papers or projects, not standardized testing. Assignments are constructed to accommodate individual student interests and concerns. Students in the University Honors Program are invited to embark on more challenging and creative assignments, to be less dependent upon the assistance of their instructors in understanding assigned readings, and to function at a more advanced stage of critical analysis.