University of Minnesota
Introduction to Computer Security
index.php

Course schedule overview

The scheduling and selection of lecture topics is subject to minor adjustment as the semester progresses, but the assignment and exam dates are not expected to change.

DateLecture topicOther assignments due
Tuesday 9/2Introduction and logistics
Thursday 9/4Part 1 overview: security failures in action
Tuesday 9/9 Low-level vulnerabilities
Thursday 9/11Low-level attack techniques
Friday 9/12HA1 attack 1
Tuesday 9/16Low-level defenses and counter-attacks 1
Wednesday 9/17Project pre-proposal
Thursday 9/18Low-level defenses and counter-attacks 2
Friday 9/19HA1 attack 2
Tuesday 9/23Defensive programming and design 1
Thursday 9/25Defensive programming and design 2Exercise set 1
Friday 9/26HA1 attack 3
Tuesday 9/30Access control basics
Wednesday 10/1 Project progress report
Thursday 10/2 Information-flow and mandatory access control
Friday 10/3 HA1 attack 4 and design
Tuesday 10/7 Protection, isolation, and assurance
Thursday 10/9 Application: electronic votingExercise set 2
Friday 10/10HA1 attack 5
Tuesday 10/14In-class midterm exam
Thursday 10/16Guest lecture: SFI
Tuesday 10/21Part 2 overview: protocols and attacks
Thursday 10/23Symmetric cryptography
Tuesday 10/28Public-key cryptography
Thursday 10/30Crypto and protocol failures
Tuesday 11/4 "S" protocols for the Internet
Wednesday 11/5 Project progress report
Thursday 11/6 Web security: server sideExercise set 3
Tuesday 11/11Web security: client side
Thursday 11/13Security middleboxes
Tuesday 11/18Malware and network DoS
Thursday 11/20Usability of securityExercise set 4
Friday 11/21Hands-on assignment 2 (all)
Tuesday 11/25Application: electronic cash
Thursday 11/27No class, Thanksgiving
Monday 12/1 Project progress report
Tuesday 12/2 Project presentations 1
Thursday 12/4 Project presentations 2Exercise set 5
Tuesday 12/9 Project presentations 3, last class
Wednesday 12/10Project final report
Thursday 12/18Final exam 10:30am-12:30pm

Detailed reading and lecture schedule