Guide to  Computer Network Security  Syllabus               .

 

Instructor:  

Phone:

Office Hours:

Class Meetings:

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COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is a study of key mechanisms, procedures and best practices  in computer and  mobile communication networks. Among the issues to be discussed are: the security of LANs, WANs, databases, and network operating systems; threats to computer networks through exploitation of network infrastructure design weaknesses; security flaws in the network infrastructure protocols; security of  content in computer network  services; risk assessment and security policies;  and security in mobile communication networks. Procedures will include: networks intrusion detection and forensics technologies, cryptographic and authentication  systems,  capability and access control mechanisms, and new developments in Internet routing and transport protocols, secure mail, directory,  and multimedia multicast services. Current trends and research in security policies and technologies will also be discussed.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To make students aware of the security perils and vulnerabilities in computing in general and in both fixed computer and mobile networks in particular

To familiarize students with the important issues pertaining to protecting computer systems against unauthorized  penetration and access and denial of service to computing systems

To introduce to students current and effective procedures to deal with network security threats,  including  use of “best practices” software tools.

To cultivate students’ interests in the search for network security solutions with the hope that some of them, in later years, may become  lead scientists in this search for durable solutions

To create and nurture an ideal atmosphere for academic dialogue, debate, and question-answer sessions among students  intended to deepen the understanding of  security of their computerized and networked environments

To improve, students' oral and written communication skills

To affect students'  behavior by challenging them to examine the role ethical and moral deliberations play in the security of their highly networked environments.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Regular class attendance.

Since there will be a good amount of class discussion, active class participation is essential. This means you must spend some quality time preparing for your next class.

One mid semester examination and a comprehensive final examination will be  given. Any exam make up will be on Reading Day.

Homework assignments: absolutely no work passed through door and window holes (even if it survives our custodial staff) will be accepted. Late work is penalized 10% per day. While collaboration on labs and projects  is permitted, blatant copying will not be tolerated.

Since you have been issued with one UTC computer account ( I assume), you have a responsibility and an obligation to practice what you are learning in the course by preventing abuse and misuse of the university computer resources. Please read the UTC Computer Use Code of Conduct.

Individual extra credit assignments for the purpose of propping up a bad grade will not be given.

Note taking is encouraged.

 EVALUATION:      Exercises                                             10%

Mid-exams (2)                                     40%    

Labs and Projects                                 30%

Comprehensive Final Examination         20%

Grading scale:  90+ = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; below 60 = F

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:          

 Part I:  Security Awareness

Week 1:                       Basic Security  Concepts–(Security: General, Information, Computer, and Network).

Week 2                        The Status of  Computer Network Security: Security Threats; How pervasive are security attacks

Week 3                        Vulnerability of Computer Networks 

Week 4                        Cyber Crimes and Hackers & Hostile Scripts 

Week 5                        Security Assessment, Analysis and Assurance 

                                    Examination 1  Coverage: All covered content.                              

 Part II:  Dealing with Network Security Challenges

Week 6                        Access Control  and Authorization 

Week 7                        Disaster  Management & Authentication

Week 8                        Cryptography (Conventional and public-key encryption and hash

Functions)

Week 9                        Cryptography (Encryption algorithms, confidentiality,

key distribution, message authentication, digital signatures)

Week 10                      Firewalls & Network Security Practice (Authentication protocols: Kerberos,

X.509 Directory Authentication Service)

Examination 2   Coverage: chapters  All content since exam1.                              

Week 11                      Intrusion Detection

Week 12                     Network Security Practice( IP Sec, S/Mime, PGP)

Week 13                     Security Evaluations of Computer Products 

Part III: Security in Modern Mobile Communications

Week 14                      Mobile network infrastructure and protocols (Security protocols

and operations

Week 15                     Site security summary

 

Final Examination: 

TEXTBOOKS:

Required:

Kizza, J.M. Guide to Computer Network Security, Springer- 2009,  ISBN  0978-1-84800-916-5.

 Recommended:

 Stein, L.D. Web Security: A Step-by-Step Reference Guide. Addison Wesley  Longman, Inc., 1998. ISBN 0-201-63489-9

Dieter Gollmann.  Computer Security, , J. Wiley & Sons.

Kaeo, Merike. Designing Network Security. Cisco Press,1999. ISBN 1-57870-043-4

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: 

(i)      Course notes, lecture materials and links to other sites.

(ii)         Cryptographic algorithms and public key security standards, including RSA Labs PKS  standards and IETF RFCshttp://williamstallings.com/Security2e.html

(iii)        Security Discussion Lists ( i.eipsec@lists.tislabs.com, bugtraq, Ntbugtraq, and Linux-alert)

(iv)        Emergency Response Centers ( i.e. CERT)

(v)           Software manuals

OTHER READING MATERIALS: 

i.                     Network Security Essentials, W. Stallings, Prentice Hall.

ii.                   PGP: pretty good privacy, S. Garfinkel, O'Reilley.

iii.                  TCP/IP Network administration, Craig Hunt, O'Reilly & Assoc.

iv.                 Practical UNIX security, Simson Garfinkel and Gene Spafford, O'Reilly Assoc.

v.                   Building Internet Firewalls, D.B. Chapman and E.D.Zwicky, O'Reilly & Assoc.

vi.               Schneier, B. Applied  Cryptography - Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C,Second Edition. John Wiley and Sons, 1995,

vii.             Stinson, D.R. Cryptography - Theory and Practice. CRC   Press, Boca Raton,  FA, 1995, 

viii.           Denning, D. Information Warfare and  Security. ACM Press, 1999.

ix.              Denning, D., and J. Denning. Internet Besieged: Countering Cyberspace Scofflaws. ACM Press, 1998.

x.                 Stein, L.D. Web Security: A Step-by-Step Reference Guide. Addison Wesley Longman,

xi.               Security reference, http://www.rootshell.com

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