CSCI-A 542: Technical Foundations of Cybersecurity
Spring 2025


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Class Schedule

Week Topic Readings
1. Jan 13 I. Security Concepts

Introduction and Administrivia
Threat Analysis and Assurance GT Ch. 1.1
2. Jan 20 Secure Design Principles GT Ch. 1.1
Access Control Models
Lab 1 Assigned
GT Ch. 1.2
3. Jan 27 II. Cryptography

Cryptography Overview
GT Ch. 1.3.1, 1.3.2
4. Feb 3 Attacks on Cryptosystems GT Ch. 1.3.3
Hash Functions and Certificates
Lab 2 Assigned
GT Ch. 1.3.4, 1.3.5
5. Feb 10 III. Operating Systems Security

Operating Systems Concepts
GT Ch. 3.1.1, 3.1.2
Process Security and the Filesystem GT Ch. 3.1.3, 3.2.1, 3.2.2
6. Feb 17 Password-Based Authentication Stallings handout
Access Control and Advanced File Permissions
Lab 3 Assigned
GT Ch. 3.3.3
7. Feb 24 IV. Attacks and Malware

Program Execution and the Stack
GT Ch. 3.1.4, 3.4.1–3.4.3
Buffer Overflow Attacks and Defenses GT Ch. 3.1.4, 3.4.1–3.4.3
8. Mar 3 Direct and Physical Attacks GT Ch. 2.4, 2.6
Sensory Malware Assiged via Canvas Announcement
9. Mar 10 Malware I GT Ch. 4.1, 4.2
Malware II
Lab 4 Assigned
GT Ch. 4.3–4.5
10. Mar 24 V. Network Security

Network Security Concepts, Link and Network Layers I
GT Ch. 5.1–5.3
Network Security Concepts, Link and Network Layers II GT Ch. 5.1–5.3
11. Mar 31 Network and Transport Layers GT Ch. 5.3, 5.4
Transport Layer and DoS
Lab 5 Assigned
GT Ch. 5.4, 5.5
12. Apr 7 Birthday Paradox Selected readings
Birthday Paradox
13. Apr 14 Firewalls GT Ch. 6.2
Intrusion Detection GT Ch. 6.4. Also Ch 6.1 and 6.3
14. Apr 21 Review
Review
Lab 6 Assigned
16. Apr 28 Review
Review
May 5–7 Online final exam Comprehensive Final Exam
Covers Entire Syllabus (all readings and labs)