Course: CSCE 496/896, Data and Network Security , 3 credits (Spring '10), Section 001, (Call No. 8155 (496)/ 8156 (896)).

Lecture: 108 Avery Hall, MWF 11:30 A.M. - 12:20 P.M.

Instructor: Byrav Ramamurthy, 108 Schorr, 472-7791 (Email: byrav@cse.unl.edu).

Instructor Office Hours: MW 10:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. and by appt.

Class Account on cse.unl.edu: cse496ip.

Class Mailing List cse496ip-ml@cse.unl.edu.

Class Website: http://www-class.unl.edu/csce496. The login is cse496 and the password will be announced in class.

Prerequisite: Course CSCE 310 or equivalent, or permission of instructor.

Proposed Track Classification: Computer Science: Applications; Computer Engineering: Comp. Eng. Applications; Graduate: Applications.

Grading: Letter; pretest+quizzes (10%), homework assignments (30%), mid-term exam I (20%), mid-term exam II (20%), Project report/term paper (20%).

Course Description: This is an introductory level course on the concepts and principles of data and network security. The focus of this class is on practical aspects and application of cryptosystems in security protocols for networks such as the Internet. The basic topics to be covered include: Applications of cryptography and cryptosystems for digital signatures, hash functions and message digests. Authentication, discussing the benefits and pitfalls of different authentication schemes, e.g. PKI and Kerberos. Secure group communication, including key distribution and key management. Network security protocols for wired and wireless networks e.g. IPsec, SSL/TLS, WEP, WPA. Cyberattacks and countermeasures, (Distributed) Denial of Service attacks, firewalls, Email filtering, viruses, worms. Security in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks and Grid/middleware security.

Course Handouts: Any handouts distributed in class will also be in the class website listed above.

Class Account: The handin directory for this class is on cse.unl.edu and will be called "cse496ip". To submit homeworks online, please use webhandin or use handin to turn in your homeworks, please type (from your cse.unl.edu account):
handin cse496ip 1 hw1.txt test.java
(or)
handin cse496ip homework-number file1 file2 ...

If you do not already have a cse account, please send a request to manager@cse.unl.edu.

Textbooks

Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World, Second Edition, (Hardcover) by Charlie Kaufman, Radia Perlman, Mike Speciner, Prentice Hall PTR, 2002 (ISBN: 0130460192) (Required).

Secure Group Communications Over Data Networks by Xukai Zou, Byrav Ramamurthy, Spyros S. Magliveras, Springer, 2005, 172 p., Hardcover (ISBN: 0-387-22970-1). (Recommended)

See "Textbooks" and "Additional Resources" sections on the class homepage for other texts, websites etc.
Articles from recent journals and conferences will be assigned throughout the semester. Relevant chapters from other textbooks will also be made available, as necessary.

Homework Assignments: There will be 3 homework assignments in this class which will each have equal weightage. There will usually be a programming part in each homework.

Project/Term Paper: This is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the subject material and your abilities as a researcher. The project report/term paper should be no more than 15 pages long and should be about an active area of research in data and network security. The project report may describe (1) Implementation of a network security protocol or secure application in Java, C++, Perl, Tcl/Tk etc., or (2) Simulation-based study of network/security characteristics, or (3) Critical study of specific network-security issues.

Academic Integrity: All submitted work must be your own contribution and nobody else's! Collaboration in homeworks and exams are not allowed. Unless you are part of a team, collaboration in a project is also not allowed. You may, however, discuss project ideas with others before you turn in your project proposal. The department's academic integrity policy is at http://cse.unl.edu/undergrads/academic_integrity.php.

Exams

Midterm exam I and Midterm exam II, one before spring break and one after (Dates TBA) (in class).

There will be no final exam in this class. However, there will be project presentations during finals week.

Regrades In general, papers/assignments to be considered for regrades must be turned in no later than one week after the graded papers/assignments were made available, not from when the student picked up her or his paper. Similarly, any misrecorded grades must be reported within a week of their posting, except as will be announced at the end of the semester. Note, that you may not (re)submit any material during the regrading process.

Questions? Please send e-mail to me, byrav@cse.unl.edu (to be read by the instructor only!) or post them on the class mailing list, cse496ip-ml@cse.unl.edu for the class (preferred!).