1 Syllabus

1.1 General syllabus

Note: click on this, and actually read it; it’s part of the syllabus:
../../SyllabusGeneral.html

1.2 Course description

This course covers principles of threat-modeling, trust, and security policies.
Topics include cryptography, reverse engineering, software security, malware analysis, authentication, access controls, operating systems hardening, virtualization, database security, and network security.
This class is programming intensive and project based, with case-analyses.

1.2.1 Prerequisite

• Grade of “C” or better in CompSci 3610 - networking
• A good attitude, work ethic, and an interest in security!

1.3 Textbooks and resources

• Required books (all free/open)
  1. The Linux command line (bash book)
     • http://linuxcommand.org/tlcl.php
  2. Cracking codes with python
     • http://inventwithpython.com/cracking/
  3. Crypto 101 (partly finished book)
     • https://www.crypto101.io/
  4. x86-64 Assembly Language Programming with Ubuntu
     • http://www.egr.unlv.edu/%7Eed/assembly64.pdf
  5. Rust documentation
     • https://www.rust-lang.org/learn
• Optional books (not free)
  1. An actually good security textbook: Analyzing Computer Security: A Threat / Vulnerability / Countermeasure Approach by Charles P. Pfleeger, Shari Lawrence Pfleeger
  2. A fun read (not a textbook really): Silence on the Wire, A Field Guide to Passive Reconnaissance and Indirect Attacks, by Michal Zalewski https://nostarch.com/silence.htm

1.4 Which virtual machine / OS for this class?

We’re going to use malware, write hacks, and break the operating system.
Virtual machines are NOT optional in this course.
You should use Fedora Security Labs for most assignments.
https://labs.fedoraproject.org/en/security/

1.5 Which programming language for this class?

Multiple!
Rust, Bash, Python, C/C++, SQL, etc.