CIS 551 | Class Profile

Course Information
Staff
Resources

Description

This is an introduction to topics in the security of computer systems and communication on networks of computers. The course covers four major areas: fundamentals of cryptography, security for communication protocols, security for operating systems and mobile programs, and security for electronic commerce. Students will be expected to display knowledge of both theory and practice through written examinations and programming assignments.

Prerequisites
• No formal prerequisites; advanced undergraduates can take the course
• Programming experience and familiarity with networking advisable
• Most important: Curiosity and willingness to think!

Topics:

• Computer Security
– Software/Languages, Computer Arch.
– Access Control, Operating Systems
– Threats: Vulnerabilities, Viruses

• Computer Networks
– Physical layers, Internet, WWW, Applications
– Cryptography in several forms
– Threats: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability

• Systems Viewpoint
– Users, social engineering, insider threats

General Information

Lectures

Towne 311, Monday and Wednesday, 13:30-15:00

Midterm 1 (15%)

Feb 12

Midterm 2 (15%)

Mar 26

Homework 1 (15%)

Individual.
Milestone 1 Due 13:30 Feb 3
Milestone 2 Due 13:30 Feb 10
Milestone 3 Due 13:30 Feb 17

Homework 2 (15%)

Group
Milestone 1 Due 13:30 Feb 26
Milestone 2 Due 13:30 Mar 5
Milestone 3 Due 13:30 Mar 19

Homework 3 (15%)

Group
Milestone 1 Due 13:30 April 9
Milestone 2 Due 13:30 April 16
Milestone 3 Due 17:00 April 30

Final exam (20%)

12:00 - 14:00 May 8
DRLB A2

Class participation (5%)

Announcements

Office Hour Changed to 3pm-4pm today

4/22/14 11:21 AM

Hi all,

Hope you are all doing well on homework 3! Due to some personal issues, I have to change my office hour today to 3pm - 4pm at Levine 561. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thanks!

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hw3.pdf has been added to class homepage under Resources

4/02/14 3:31 PM

The teaching staff has posted a new homework resource.

Title: hw3.pdf
http://www.piazza.com/class_profile/get_resource/hohpancnlp113i/htj08t8fmb534b

Part 1 Due date: Apr 9, 2014, 1:30PM

Part 2 Due date: Apr 16, 2014, 1:30PM

Part 3 Demo date:

Group 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: Apr 28, 2014, 1:30PM ~ 3:00PM

Group 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 : Apr 30, 2014, 1:30PM ~ 3:00PM

Part 3 Final Report Due date: Apr 30, 2014, 5PM

You can view it on the course page: https://piazza.com/upenn/spring2014/cis551/resources

#pin

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Midterm 2 scores are available on Canvas

4/01/14 3:25 PM

Seems everybody is doing well on Midterm 2. Both the average and median is around 93. Congratulations! The distribution was:

95-100: 12x
90-94: 11x

85-90: 6x

<85: 3x

Update: you could review your midterm at Cheryl's office (review only). If you have any questions, please post it on Piazza.

Thanks!

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Sample_Midterm2_Example_Answers.pdf has been added to class homepage under Resources

3/25/14 1:30 PM

The teaching staff has posted a new exam resource.

Title: CIS_551_Spring_2014_Sample_Midterm2_Example_Answers.pdf

You can view it on the course page: https://piazza.com/upenn/spring2014/cis551/resources

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Eval_HW2.pdf has been added to class homepage under Resources

3/19/14 4:28 PM

The teaching staff has posted a new homework resource.

Title: Eval_HW2.pdf
http://www.piazza.com/class_profile/get_resource/hohpancnlp113i/hsz2a17k3223xh

Due date: Mar 26, 2014

You can view it on the course page: https://piazza.com/upenn/spring2014/cis551/resources

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hw2.pdf has been added to class homepage under Resources

2/19/14 4:45 PM

The teaching staff has posted a new homework resource.

Title: hw2.pdf
http://www.piazza.com/class_profile/get_resource/hohpancnlp113i/hrv49quow1e1ej

Part 1 Due date: Feb 26, 2014
Part 2 Due date: Mar 5, 2014
Part 3 Due date: Mar 19, 2014

You can view it on the course page: https://piazza.com/upenn/spring2014/cis551/resources

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Midterm 1 Distribution

2/17/14 1:42 PM

Both the average and the mean is around 84. Here is the distribution graph: