Course Syllabus
Today we all live and work in a participatory cyberspace. Computers, the data networks that interconnect them, and the services available over the networks make up this cyberspace. As cyberspace invades almost all areas of modern day living, playing, and working, it is becoming more important that people understand its technical and political underpinnings and operations, as well as its capabilities, threats, and weaknesses.
This is a companion course to CSCI E-45a. The goal of this pair of courses is to give students the tools they need to understand, use, and manage the technologies involved, as well as the ability to appreciate the legal, social, and political dynamics of this ever expanding universe and the interplay between the cyber and physical worlds. The pair of courses covers the essential elements of computing and the history, structure, operation, and governance of the Internet.
This course explores the technical and legal aspects of the interactions and tensions between security, usability, privacy, and surveillance in a post NSA-revelation world. We also look at the technical and legal underpinnings that affect the use of cyberspace for businesses. Finally, we explore the rapidly changing dangers of cyberspace from viruses to state-sponsored cyber-conflict.
If you are registered, you can view the course home page.
Reading list for the course.
Week # |
Start Date |
Coursework |
Week 1 |
January 22 |
Module 01: Introduction to the Cyber World |
Week 2 |
January 29 |
Module 02: Internet governance |
Week 3 |
February 5 |
Module 03: Internet application protocols |
Week 4 |
February 12 |
Module 04: Identity and authentication |
Exam I |
February 17–27 |
Due 9:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time |
Week 5 |
February 19 |
Module 05: Trust and privacy |
Week 6 |
February 26 |
Module 06: Security threats I |
Week 7 |
March 5 |
Module 07: Security threats II |
Exam II |
March 10–27 |
Due 9:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time |
Break |
March 12 |
Spring Break - No New Materials |
Week 8 |
March 19 |
Module 08: Protecting the infrastructure |
Week 9 |
March 26 |
Module 09: Usability, accessibility |
Week 10 |
April 2 |
Module 10: Cyber conflict |
Week 11 |
April 9 |
Module 11: Commerce, DRM |
Exam III |
April 14–24 |
Due 9:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time |
Week 12 |
April 16 |
Module 12: Information security strategy, classification, policy, and mindset |
Week 13 |
April 23 |
Module 13: Surveillance and counter-surveillance |
Week 14 |
April 30 |
Module 14: Safe computing and networking |
Exam IV |
May 5–15 |
Due 9:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time |
About the exams
There will be 4 exams of 25 questions each. They will count equally towards the course grade. Each of the exams will be made available the Friday at 9:00 pm U.S. E.T. following the posting of the last module covered in the exam. Exams are due by the date and time noted in the syllabus. The exams will be cumulative, each one covering the all of the modules, readings and news you can use that were posted before the exam is made available. Detailed directions will be published with the exams.
Coincident with Exam 4, we’ll be providing an optional short essay question graded up to 5 points, and will be added to the average of the four exams.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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