COMP 3261: Internet and Security Issues

Students will have sound understanding of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol suite and Internet/Intranet techniques, and have necessary knowledge and skills for network-related professions and advanced studies.

• 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.

• 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

The following materials are required for this course:

1. Stallings, W. (2017). Cryptography and network security: Principles and practice (7th ed.). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
   Type: Textbook. ISBN: 978-0-13-444428-4

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.