COMP 3261: Internet and Security Issues
This course presents the most practical of Internet/Intranet technologies and techniques to students. It covers Internet protocols, addressing and architecture, Intranet and Extranet design, installation and management, as well as all aspects of Internet/Intranet security and user/data authentication.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify and classify particular examples of attacks.
- Classify computer network vulnerabilities and types of attacks.
- Define security goals and their meanings.
- Explain useful tools commonly used by an attacker.
- Explain common techniques used for launching the Denial of Service and Distributed Denial of Service attacks, as well as techniques to prevent them.
- Explain the characteristics of viruses, worms and malware.
- Explain the basic concepts and techniques for protecting and designing a private network.
- Identify types of firewall implementation suitable for differing security requirements.
- Apply and explain simple filtering rules based on IP and TCP header information.
- Distinguish between firewalls based on packet-filtering routers, application level gateways and circuit-level gateways.
- Compare and contrast symmetric and asymmetric encryption systems and their vulnerability to attack, and explain the characteristics of hybrid systems.
- Explain what is meant by data integrity, and give reasons for its importance.
- Describe the use of hash functions, and explain the characteristics of one-way and collision-free functions.
- Explain the role of third-party agents in the provision of authentication services.
- Explain some widely-used techniques and protocols for secure communications.
- Discuss the effectiveness of passwords in access control and the influence of human behaviour.
- Be aware of future trends in the field of network security.
Course outline
- Unit 1--Introduction to Network Security
- Unit 2--Securing the Networks using Firewalls
- Unit 3--Securing the Data Transaction: Cryptography
- Unit 4--Securing the Data Transaction: Digital Signature, Security Protocols and Virtual Private Networks
- Unit 5--Web-based Security Issues and Emerging Areas of Network Security
Required text and materials
Stallings, W. Cryptography and network security: Principles and practice . (7th ed.). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, (2017).
Type: ISBN: 978-0-13-444428-4
Assessments
Please be aware that due to COVID-19 safety guidelines all in-person exams have been suspended. As such, all final exams are currently being delivered through ProctorU, which has an approximate fee of $35 involved. There will be more information in your course shell, on how to apply, if your course has a final exam.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher in the overall course and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Exam.
| Assignment 1: Network Security | 10% |
| Assignment 2: Firewalls | 10% |
| Assignment 3: Cryptography | 10% |
| Assignment 4: Securing Data Transactions | 10% |
| Assignment 5: Web-based Security and Biometric Authentication | 10% |
| Final Exam* | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
* Mandatory
Open Learning Faculty Member
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Primary communication is through the Learning Environment's "mail" tool or by phone. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.