CSCI 7000-001: Foundations of Computer and Network Security
Computer systems and communication networks manage and transport an
impressive amount of critical information. Information, the ability
to process it, and the ability to move it, are vital for many
functions of a modern society. Think about the critical role of
information systems within the banking system (management and movement
of money), the air-traffic control system and the railway systems
(movement of people, food, oil, coal), the power grid (production,
management, and transportation of energy). Also consider how much
governments, corporations, educational institutions, and ultimately
every individual is dependent on information systems.
Clearly, information and information systems are extremely valuable
assets that must be protected from theft, misuse, tampering,
destruction, and unauthorized access.
Computer and network security is the branch of computer science that
studies methods and techniques to achieve this kind of protection.
This course introduces some foundational topics of computer and
network security, including:
- models of communication security
- security threats (e.g., spoofing, denial of service)
- security goals (e.g., integrity, confidentiality,
authentication, availability)
- basic cryptography (symmetric, public-key, and one-way
cryptographic functions)
- basic protocols (e.g., authentication protocols)
- host security models (UNIX security, ACLs)
- operating-system security features
- protection techniques (e.g., firewalls, tunneling, virus
detection, intrusion detection)
- specific tools and standards (e.g., pgp, ssh, SSL, S/MIME)
Additional information is available on the following topics: