FIT3018

Information and network security ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Undergraduate

(IT)

Leader: Dr Asad Khan

Offered:
Peninsula First semester 2006 (Day)
Peninsula SA-02 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: The aim of this subject is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify security problems which may arise in a networked computing environment and to explore modern security technologies that may be used to prevent or resolve such security problems. The unit will cover: Fundamentals of cryptography; Security threats and counter-measures in a computing and communications system; Standard security techniques for achieving confidentiality and authenticity; Communication security; Database security; Operating system security; Wireless security; Email security; Computer viruses and Malicious codes.

Objectives: At the completion of this subject students should be able to: Identify the threats to the security of a network computing system; Describe the operation of computer viruses, worms and other nuisance/destructive programs and understand the counter-measures, which can be taken to protect systems against these programs; Describe a range of access control policies and select appropriate mechanisms to implement each of the policies; Differentiate between a range of standard security techniques in terms of the security they provide and the resources required; Understand and assess the performance of commonly used security algorithms and protocols; Apply standard security techniques to information transmitted over communication lines or stored in a database in order to provide confidentiality, authenticity and integrity; Understand the issues involved in information and network security in wireless and mobile environments; Be able to assess the performance of security systems in wireless and mobile environments. Students will at least gain practical skills in securing data, email, ftp, web services. In addition, they will be able to protect their important information, software, and communications.

Assessment: Practical assignment 40%; Lab test 20%; Final exam: 40%.

Contact Hours: Lecture: 2 hours/week, Tutorial: 2 hours/week.

Prerequisites: FIT1005

Prohibitions: CPE2007, CPE3001, CSE3206