Basic Information
- Course name: Computer Security
- Semester: Spring 2026
- Credits: 4
- Prerequisites: CS 455 (Intro to Distributed Systems) strongly recommended; knowledge of programming expected; broad understanding of how computer systems work.
- Meetings/Times: TR 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm (in-person section), asynchronous (online section)
- Location: Scott Bioengineering, room 231
Course Materials
While there are no required textbooks, select resources will be provided on Canvas. The following textbooks are suggested as useful supplementary materials:
- Security in Computing, 6th Edition by Charles Pfleeger, Shari Pfleeger, and Lizzie Coles-Kemp (2023). ISBN-13: 9780138230746
- Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice (7th edition), by William Stallings (2016). ISBN-13: 978-0134444284
Charlie Pfleeger’s book contains sections for a major portion of the topics that we will cover. William Stallings’s book has more information about cryptography.
Here are some other books on the topic that you may find interesting:
- Firewalls and Internet Security: Repelling the Wily Hacker by William R. Cheswick and Steven M. Bellovin, Adison-Wesley.
- Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World by Charlie Kaufman, Radia Perlman and Mike Spencer, Prentice Hall.
- Information Security: An Integrated Collection of Essays by Marshall D. Adams, Sushil Jajodia and Harold J. Podell, eds., IEEE Computer Society Press.
- Fundamentals of Computer Security Technology by Edward Amoroso, Prentice-Hall.
- Cryptography and Data Security by Dorothy E. Denning, Addison-Wesley.
- Computers under Attack by Peter J. Denning, Addison-Wesley.
- Cryptography: Theory and Practice by Douglas R. Stinson, CRC Press.
- Building a Secure Computer System by Morrie Gasser, Van Nostrand Reinhold.
- Building Internet Firewalls by D. Brent Chapman and Elizabeth D. Zwicky, O’Reilly and Associates.
- CS 455 (Intro to Distributed Systems) strongly recommended.
- Knowledge of programming expected.
- Broad understanding of how computer systems work.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the fundamental principles of access control models and techniques.
- Describe the fundamental principles of secure system design.
- Apply various cryptographic protocols and techniques.
- Apply authentication, access control, and intrusion detection techniques.
- Identify software security vulnerabilities in existing systems.
- Identify mitigation techniques for software security vulnerabilities in existing systems.
Tentative Course Schedule
Please note that the schedule may be modified as the semester progresses. Please see Canvas for the most up-to-date deadlines.
| Week | Lecture Content | Lab/Recitation/Other Content | Course Learning Outcome # |
| 1 | Introduction to computer security | 1, 2 | |
| 2-3 | Access control models | 1, 4 | |
| 4 | Compliance | Identification of term project/paper topic | 2, 5, 6 |
| 5 | Introduction to cryptography | 1, 3 | |
| 6-7 | Secret and Public key cryptosystems | Term project/paper abstract due | 3 |
| 8 | Diffie-Hellman, RSA, El-Gammal, Elliptic Curves, Lattice-based Crypto | Homework assignment | 3 |
| 9 | Spring Break | Spring Break | |
| 10 | Searchable encryption, computation over encrypted data | 2, 3 | |
| 11 | Message digests, Merkle hashes and Blockchain, digital signatures | Homework assignment | 2, 3 |
| 12 | Identification and authentication | Term project/paper update | 4, 5, 6 |
| 13 | Wireless security | 5, 6 | |
| 14 | Privacy and computer security | 5, 6 | |
| 15 | AI and computer security | 5, 6 | |
| 16 | Course wrap-up | Finish final reports and presentation content |
Student Experiences and Pedagogical Techniques
This course combines lectures, student-led discussions, hands-on programming exercises, and project-based learning. Students will critically engage with current research literature, analyze real vulnerabilities, and critically evaluate existing vulnerability analysis models. Peer feedback and collaborative learning will be emphasized throughout the semester.
