CMSC 414 - Computer and Network Security
Spring 2012
Course Outline
This course is an introduction to the broad field of computer, network, and information security.
We will cover both computer security (including such topics as security policies, access control, viruses, etc.) and
network security (such as protocols for maintaining confidentiality of email or for secure web transactions), along with some relevant background in basic cryptography.
The course will be similar, though not identical, to the version of the course
I taught previously.
This semester I am teaching two sections of this class.
The homeworks/projects will be identical, and I will try my best to
keep the lectures for the two sections in sync.
General Information
- There are two course sections: the first meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 2-3:15, and the second meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 3:30-4:45. Both sections meet in 1122 CSIC.
- There is no required or recommended textbook for the course (though I am happy
to recommend texts for specific topics if students are interested).
I will post papers and other references throughout the semester; unless
noted otherwise,
these should be treated as required reading for the course. They will
be posted on the course syllabus in advance,
and should be read before class so we can discuss them.
- Grading will be based on 3-5 homeworks/labs (30%),
a midterm exam (30%), and a final exam (40%).
(Note that homeworks make up a significant portion of the final grade! I also
reserve the right to ask about the labs on the exams.)
Class participation will be taken into account for borderline grades.
- Homework
- Late homeworks will not be accepted;
turn in whatever you have completed by the deadline.
If you foresee a problem completing the homework in time due to personal circumstances, speak to me about it well in advance.
- Certain homeworks can be done in teams of two students. It is expected that both students will be involved in all phases of each homework (i.e., you should not divide the homework so that one student works on the first question while the other works on the second). On the midterms, I will ask detailed questions based on the homeworks and it will be easy to catch someone who does not know what is going on.
- You may consult outside references when doing the homework, as long as these sources are properly referenced, you write up the solution yourself, and you understand the answer.
For example, if you look at other source code, you may not copy the code directly in your program, but you may model your program after it. And you must reference it!
- Check the course homepage frequently since announcements will be posted here and all handouts and homeworks will be distributed via the web.
Announcements
- The midterm will be on March 15, the Thursday before Spring Break.
- The final exam will be on May 10 (the final day of classes).
I have written a high-level summary of what you should know for the final.
Staff
Instructor: Jonathan Katz (jkatz@cs). Office: 3225 A.V. Williams Building.
Office hours: By appointment.
Teaching Assistants:
- 2:00 - 3:15 section: Zhengzheng Xu (zzxu@cs). Office hours: Wednesday 2:30-4:30 in the TA room
- 3:30 - 4:45 section: Talia Ringer (tlringer@terpmail). Office hours: Monday 3:30-5:30 in the TA room