CSE5210 Advances in Information Security , Unit Information Guide (Semester 1, 2006)
Chief Examiner
Chris Avram
Outline
Secure computer systems.
Privacy; Information Systems Security.
The security requirements of parties to a transaction:privacy, proof of identity, ownership, license, signature, notarisation, date of action, certification of origination and/or receipt.
Cryptology:types of cryptoanalytic attacks on a cryptosystem; cryptographic systems; protocols.
Secret key systems:information theory; one time pads; DES; pseudo random number generators and other current developments.
Public key systems:one way functions; public-key distribution; RSA cryptosystems; discrete logarithm systems; zero knowledge proofs and other current developments.
Applications:Internet applications, open channel key exchange; digital signature; user identification; electronic funds transfer; the electronic wallet; traceable versus untraceable EFT; contract negotiation and signature; smart card applications.
Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding
Secret key cryptography
Public key cryptography, RSA
Public key certificates
the factors influencing the security of data in distributed systems, especially transaction processing systems
the expectations of and rights to privacy;
Attitudes, Values and Beliefs
sympathy for openness to achieve security;
sympathy for the principle of proportionality as applied to information security;
Practical Skills
competent use of software packages for securing email and encrypting files;
researching in and writing about information security;
Prerequisites
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed [
An introductory unit on data communications (such as CSE9002), and an introductory unit on database systems (such as CSE9801)
] , or equivalent. You should have knowledge of [ A university qualification in information technology including
an introduction to data communications, and
an introduction to database systems
]
Unit relationships
CSE5210 is a elective unit. Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed [
An introductory unit on data communications (such as CSE9002), and an introductory unit on database systems (such as CSE9801)
] , or equivalent. You should have knowledge of [ A university qualification in information technology including
an introduction to data communications, and
an introduction to database systems
].
Texts and software
Required text(s)
Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.
Hardware requirements:
Recommended reading
Anderson, R. J. (2001), Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems, Wiley.
Brassard, G. (1988), Modern cryptology a tutorial, Lecture notes in computer science number 325, Springer-Verlang.
Caelli, W.; Longley, D.; Shain, M. (1989), Information Security for Managers, Stockton Press.
Davis, D. W.; Price, W. L. (1989), Security for computer networks (second edition), John Wiley and Sons, Chichester.
Dening, D. E. R. (1983), Cryptography and data security, Addison Wesley, Reading, MA.
Kahn, D. (1967), The codebreakers, New York,: MacMillan; (abridged edition, (1974) Signet, New York)
Knuth, D. (1981), The art of computer programming 2nd ed. volume 2 seminumerical algorithms, Reading MA.: Addison-Wesley.
Salomaa, Arto (1990), Public-Key Cryptography, Springer-Verlag, (EATCS Monographs on Theoretical Computer Science Volume 23).
Schneier, B (1995), Applied cryptography : Protocols, algorithms, and source code in C (2nd. Ed.), John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Seberry, J.;Pieprzyk, J. (1989), Cryptography: an introduction to computer security, Prentice Hall.}
Library access
You may need to access the Monash library either personally to be able to satisfactorily complete the subject. Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment for the unit consists of up to 9 assignments.
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
Achieve a score of 50% and attend at least 70% of the lectures.
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
50% short weekly assignmnets, best 5 will be counted; 50% research project including 5% for a presentation to your tutorial group.
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Assignment specifications will be made available in the lecture, there is no Unit Notices News group.. Information about assignments will be published on the Unit's Notices Newsgroup.
Assignment Submission Methods
There will be upto 8 short assignments handed out weekly in the lecture and due the following week in the lecture. The best 5 assignment marks will be used to determine your final grade.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Weekly assignments received after the due date will not be accepted. The major project, if late will be penalised.
This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment.
Extensions
It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions.
Requests for extensions must be made by 'email to the unit lecturer' at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.
Grading of assessment
Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:
HD High Distinction -
very high levels of achievement, demonstrated knowledge and understanding, skills in application and high standards of work encompassing all aspects of the tasks.
In the 80+% range of marks for the assignment.
D Distinction -
high levels of achievement, but not of the same standards. May have a weakness in one particular aspect, or overall standards may not be quite as high.
In the 70-79% range.
C Credit -
sound pass displaying good knowledge or application skills, but some weaknesses in the quality, range or demonstration of understanding.
In the 60-69% range.
P Pass -
acceptable standard, showing an adequate basic knowledge, understanding or skills, but with definite limitations on the extent of such understanding or application. Some parts may be incomplete.
In the 50-59% range.
N Not satisfactory -
failure to meet the basic requirements of the assessment.
Below 50%.
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.
Feedback
Feedback to you
You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.
Feedback from you
You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.
And if you are having problems
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism and cheating
Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
Communication
Weekly discussion tutorials will be available.
Notices
Notices related to the unit during the semester will be made in the lecture.
Consultation Times
Monday 4-5
Thursday 3-5
If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:
All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.
