COS/ELE 432
Information Security
Fall 2017



Course Information | Schedule

COURSE INFORMATION

Course description.  Security issues in computing, communications, and electronic commerce. Goals and vulnerabilities; legal and ethical issues; basic cryptology; private and authenticated communication; electronic commerce; software security; viruses and other malicious code; operating system protection; trusted systems design; network security; firewalls; policy, administration and procedures; auditing; physical security; disaster recovery; reliability; content protection; privacy.

Textbook. There is no required or suggested textbook in this course, because there is no one book that covers the right material in an up-to-date fashion. Here are some good books about security, in case you're interested.

There are many good books about cryptography, but relatively few good ones about other computer security topics.

Lectures.  Lectures meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3pm in Friend 101

Piazza  We will be using the class Piazza board as the main vehicle for class discussion, announcements, and answering questions.

Homework Policy. Late homework will lose 10% of its value for every day of lateness. Homework more than seven days late will not be accepted.

No homework extensions will be given except in extraordinary circumstances (such as documented illness), and then only if the official university procedures are followed.

Collaboration policy.  This course permits many forms of collaboration, including help from course staff, classmates, and lab TAs. However, you must be careful to collaborate only as authorized below. Here is an executive summary.

activity your partner course staff COS 432 grads classmates other
discuss concepts with ...
acknowledge collaboration with ...
expose solutions to ... no no
view solutions from ... no no no no
plagiarize code from ... no no no no no

Grading.  Grades will be computed by the following formula: 65% homework; 30% final exam; 5% other factors.

Staff, Office Hours and Other Help. 

Instructor
Ed Felten - felten@
Office: Sherrerd 302, (609) 258-5906
Office Hours: by arrangement