EE579T: Network Security


Spring 2007
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

 



Time: Tuesday 6 pm - 8:50 pm
Location: Atwater Kent 233
Instructor:  Dr. Wenjing Lou (wjlou@ece.wpi.edu)
Office:  Atwater Kent 303 (x5338)
Office Hours:  Tuesday 3pm - 4pm, and by appointment 
   
   
Prerequisites:  Working knowledge of computers, basic computer networks, basic operating systems
Text book:  Network Security – Private Communication in a Public World, 2nd edition, by C. Kaufman, R. Pearlman, M. Speciner, Prentice Hall
Reference book: Cryptography and Network Security - Principles and Practice, 4th edition, by W. Stallings, Prentice Hall
Course webpage:  http://www.ece.wpi.edu/~wjlou/htmls/teaching/ECE579T/ECE579T.html

Course objectives


The goal for students in this course is to learn the fundamentals of network security, including

Introduction to network security Basic cryptography Key management
Authentication

Cipher techniques

Security protocols  Attacks and defenses on computer systems

Wireless security


Grades


Your grades will be determined as follows:

Class attendance 5%
Homework 20%
Midterm 20%
Final  30%
Research paper presentation 25%

Class Attendance

The primary teaching method will be class lectures and discussions. The lectures will discuss topics presented in the textbook and cover additional material. Class attendance is expected in every class. 

Homework

Five to seven sets of homework will be assigned during the semester. The problem set will be posted on the class website and announced in class. Students will work individually on their homework assignments; this is mandatory and homework will not be accepted otherwise. The due date for each assignment will be given at the time it is assigned. Homework will be collected at the start of the class in which they are due. No late submissions will be accepted.

Exams

There will be two exams, midterm and final, both close-book and close-note exams. Details will be discussed one week prior to the exam. 

Presentation

Students are also expected to actively read the state-of-the-art research papers. Groups of 1 or 2 persons should be formed. Each group will research on a “hot” area, submit a 1-3 pages proposal before the mid-term exam. Before the final exam, each group submits a 5-10 pages summary reporting your findings, and give one presentation to the rest of the class. The schedule of the presentation will be discussed at a later time. The presentations are meant to update fellow students on current trends, technologies, and issues that related to network security. It is mandatory to be present in your peers’ presentations. The participation in the presentation counts 5%; missing one presentation costs 0.5%. The grades of the presentation come from evaluation from fellow students in the class as well as the instructor. A list of recommended papers will be distributed later in the class. Students are also encouraged to search for their own papers. In this case, you need to get the approval from the instructor for the topic and papers you select to study.


Lecture Notes:  Please access these course materials from myWPI.

Week 1 :  Introduction to Network Security; Introduction to Cryptography-I

Week 2 :  Introduction to Cryptography; Secret Key Cryptography

Week 3 :  Modes of Operation; Hashes and Message Digests

Week 4 :  Public Key Algorithms

Week 5 :  Overview of Authentication Systems

Week 6 :  Security handshake pitfalls

Week 7 :  Mid-term Exam

week 8 :  Network Authentication Protocol - Kerberos V4

Week 9 : Real-time Communication Security and Public Key Infrastructure

Week 10 :  Network Security Protocol - IPSec

Week 11 :  Network Security Protocol - SSL/TLS

Week 12 :  Wireless Security

Week 13 :  Project Presentation

Week 14 :  Final Exam

 

 

* Note: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus throughout the semester.


Academic Honesty Policy


WPI has an established academic honor code, described in http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/Policies/Honesty/. Please review the code and be aware that I expect students to abide fully by this code.