COMPUTER SECURITY A - 2022/3

Module Overview

The understanding of security issues is arguably more important than ever before. This module covers the basic principles behind computer security.

Module provider

Computer Science

Module Leader

BOUREANU Ioana (Elec Elec En)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

JACs code:

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

none

Module content

The module is divided into the following areas:

- Introduction to security issues and security evaluation

- Introduction to cryptography

- Symmetric and public key cryptography, in general

- Principles and details of symmetric cryptographic algorithms, e.g., block ciphers, MACs

- Asymmetric encryption and digital signatures, e.g., RSA/ElGamal

- Attacks and security of protocols

- Modern topics in security and applied cryptography, e.g., VPN, firewalls

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

nonw

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their achievement of the learning outcomes.

All learning outcomes are assessed via coursework and formatively by labs.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

-- The coursework is not fixed and varies year on year in the amount of practice vs theory.

The first coursework covers the first half of the module (see descriptor) which is primarily applied cryptography.

The second coursework covers the second half of the module (see descriptor) which is primarily security protocols and their analysis.

-- Grades for the coursework items are given against  published assessment criteria with each piece of coursework.

-- Coursework is around 40 hours of work.  It is an individual piece of work.

Formative assessment and feedback

Verbal feedback is given in lab sessions on the students attempts at the lab exercises and theoretical questions.

Written formative feedback is also given on the coursework.

Module aims

• develop the understanding of computer security and its fundamental principles
• focus on the details of cryptographic mechanisms and how they are used to achieve security
• develop an understanding of the difficulties involved in achieving security and the approaches taken in analysing security solutions
• introduce tools for exploring cryptography and for protocol analysis
• introduce elements of security proofs

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching methods include:

For each teaching week there will be

-- at least 1 hour of recorded/captured content

-- 2 hour of face-to-face labs, unless the public-health situation changes

There will also be a revision session to support the module.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: COM2041

Other information

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

- Provide students with the knowledge, skills and practical experience covering the module aims and learning outcomes

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2022/3 academic year.