Introduction to Computer Security Fall 2021
This course teaches the security mindset and introduces the principles and practices of computer security as applied to software, host systems, and networks. It covers the foundations of building, using, and managing secure systems. Topics include standard cryptographic functions and protocols, threats and defenses for real-world systems, incident response, and computer forensics. See the schedule for details.
| Professors |
Adam Bates Ling Ren Office hours: Thu. 4:00pm–5:00pm Online Zoom |
| Prerequisites | Credit in CS 241 or ECE 391 |
| Lectures |
Tue./Thu.: 9:30am – 10:45am Online Zoom Classroom |
| Discussion Sections |
Wed. 10:00am–10:50am, 1103 Siebel Center for Comp Sci and Online Zoom Classroom Wed. 11:00am–11:50am, 1105 Siebel Center for Comp Sci Wed. 12:00pm–12:50pm, 1105 Siebel Center for Comp Sci Wed. 01:00pm–01:50pm, 1105 Siebel Center for Comp Sci and Online Zoom Classroom Wed. 02:00pm–02:50pm, 1105 Siebel Center for Comp Sci Wed. 03:00pm–03:50pm, 1103 Siebel Center for Comp Sci and Online Zoom Classroom |
| TAs |
Austin Kuo Paul Murley Joshua Reynolds Office Hours (MP4) -- Tue. 11/9, 7:00pm–9:00pm, Discord Only Thur. 11/11, 7:00pm–9:00pm, Discord Only Tue. 11/16, 7:00pm–9:00pm, Discord Only Wed. 11/17, 5:00pm–7:00pm, Both in-person and on discord Thur. 11/18, 7:00pm–9:00pm, Discord Only Mon. 11/29, 5:00pm–7:00pm, Both in-person and on discord Tue. 11/30, 7:00pm–9:00pm, Discord Only Tue. 11/30, 9:00pm–11:00pm, Discord Only |
| Communications |
We will make use of the following communication methods during this course:
|
| Reference Books |
No textbook is required, but if you would like additional references, we recommend:
|
| Resources |
Security and Privacy Research at Illinois Security Course Roadmap |
Grading
| Programming Projects | 40% | Four programming projects (10% each), completed in teams of two |
| Quizzes | 10% | Weekly assignments to check that you followed the week's lectures |
| Midterm Exam | 25% | One exam covering material in the first half of class |
| Final Exam | 25% | One exam covering all material from the course |
Adapting to the COVID-19 Pandemic
CS 461 / ECE 422 will be offered in a hybrid mode this semester. We will continue to monitor the situation and may move activities online or in-person during the semester.- All lectures will take place in synchronous (real-time) Zoom meetings. (With the 50% room capacity rule in place, the university does not have enough rooms for big classes.)
- Discussion sessions will be held both in-person and online. We ask that you only register for an in-person session if you intend to attend in-person.
- Video recordings for all lectures and discussions will be made available shortly after each meeting.
- Office hours will be held online.
- Exams will take place online.
- We dropped a few lectures to dedicate more time to challenging topics and exam reviews.
- We dropped one programming project.
- We introduced weekly quizzes to make sure you're keeping up.
- We changed the distribution of work for TA's so that each student works with the same TA for the entire semester, allowing the TA to act as an advocate and guide to the subject matter.
Statement on Mental Health
Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, substance/alcohol abuse, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance, social development, and emotional wellbeing. The University of Illinois offers a variety of confidential services including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric services, and specialized screenings at no additional cost. If you or someone you know experiences any of the above mental health concerns, it is strongly encouraged to contact or visit any of the University’s resources provided below. Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do -- for yourself and for those who care about you.
Counseling Center: 217-333-3704, 610 East John Street Champaign, IL 61820
McKinley Health Center:217-333-2700, 1109 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Ethics, Law, and University Policies Warning
This course will include topics related computer security and privacy. As part of this investigation we may cover technologies whose abuse could infringe on the rights of others. As computer scientists, we rely on the ethical use of these technologies. Unethical use includes circumvention of an existing security or privacy mechanisms for any purpose, or the dissemination, promotion, or exploitation of vulnerabilities of these services. Any activity outside the letter or spirit of these guidelines will be reported to the proper authorities and may result in dismissal from the class and possibly more severe academic and legal sanctions.
Acting lawfully and ethically is your responsibility. Carefully read the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), a federal statute that broadly criminalizes computer intrusion. This is one of several laws that govern “hacking.” Understand what the law prohibits — you don’t want to end up like this guy. If in doubt, we can refer you to an attorney.
Please review the Campus Administrative Manual (especially Policy on Appropriate Use of Computers and Network Systems at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) for guidelines concerning proper use of information technology at Illinois, as well as the Student Code (especially 1-302 Rules of Conduct, 1‑402 Academic Integrity Infractions). As members of the university, you are required to abide by these policies.
Academic Integrity
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should also be considered as a part of this syllabus. Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Read the Code at the following URL: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/.
Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Every student is expected to review and abide by the Academic Integrity Policy: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.
Sale or Distribution of Lecture Notes or Course Materials
As documented by 1-302 Rules of Conduct of the student code, "No student shall sell, deliver or distribute copyrighted lecture notes or other course materials without the express permission of the copyright holder. An example of an infraction would include posting on a website or selling instructor copyrighted slides, lecture notes or other expressions fixed in a medium."
Disability-Related Accomodations
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to https://www.disability.illinois.edu. If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability. You may access these by visiting the DRES website and selecting “Request an Academic Screening” at the bottom of the page.
