Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Christophe Doche
Contact via By email
BD building Level 2
TBA
Lecturer
Les Bell
TBA
Lecturer
Hassan Asghar
Contact via x9521
BD Building Level 2
TBA
Workshops Supervisor
Naila Mukhtar
TBA
Workshops Supervisor
Mohamadali Mehrabi
TBA
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) including (COMP125 and (DMTH137 or DMTH237))
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
ISYS358
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
COMP343 / ITEC643
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an introduction to modern cryptography and information security. First, some cryptographic primitives, such as private key and public key ciphers, hash functions and digital signatures, are introduced. Then, some security technologies are discussed to illustrate how basic cryptographic primitives are concretely used in real life applications. Various attacks on the cryptographic schemes and protocols are also discussed.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Hurdle Assessment Tasks
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Tutorial Tasks | 10% | Yes | Weekly |
Assignment 1 | 15% | No | Week 6 |
Assignment 2 | 15% | No | Week 12 |
Mid Semester Test | 15% | No | Week 7 |
Final Examination | 45% | Yes | TBA |
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Each week, a set of exercises will be available online. Some require written submissions, while some are multiple choice. Your solutions should be submitted electronically via iLearn before the deadline specified in the text.
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 15%
Assignment comprises two parts. The first part involves the implementation of a hash function. The second part deals with a public key cryptoprimitives. The assignment is due in week 6. The assignment is to be submitted via iLearn. Late submissions attract no marks.
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 15%
Security Evaluation of a System or Product. The assignment is to be submitted via iLearn. Late submissions attract no marks.
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 15%
A 50 minutes long written examination worth 15% that will be held in week 7 during class time. This will test your understanding of material covered in weeks 1 to 6. The mid-semester test has the same structure as the final examination. The feedback received will allow you to be better prepared for the final examination.
Due: TBA
Weighting: 45%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
The final examination is designed to test your understanding of basic concepts of modern Cryptography and Information Security. Regarding the examination process, note that:
Important! Please note that COMP343 is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) unit since 2016. You will be expected to bring your own laptop computer (Windows, Mac or Linux) to the Tutorial/Practicals, install and configure the required software, and incorporate secure practices into your daily work (and play!) routines.
Each week you should complete any assigned readings and review the lecture slides in order to prepare for the lecture. There are two hours of lectures on Thursday and a third hour on Friday.
There are two practical workshops, on Mondays and Thursdays, which use hands-on exercises to introduce and reinforce concepts related to the lecture content; you should have chosen a practical on enrollment. You will find it helpful to read the workshop instructions before attending - that way, you can get to work quickly!
For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.
Note that Workshops commence in week 1.
You should have selected a practical at enrollment.
Please note that you will be required to submit work every week. Failure to do so may result in you failing the unit or being excluded from the exam.
This unit makes use of discussion boards hosted within iLearn . Please post questions there; they are monitored by the staff on the unit.
Required readings for this unit:
Recommended readings for this unit:
iLearn
iLearn is a Learning Management System that gives you access to lecture slides, lecture recordings, forums, assessment tasks, instructions for practicals, discussion forums and other resources.
Echo 360 (formerly known as iLecture)
Digital recordings of lectures are available. Read these instructions for details.
Technology Used
Java or C++ programming language and GP/PARI, GnuPG, VeraCrypt, Thunderbird, Gnu Privacy Guard, Enigmail, OpenSSH, PuTTY, Ophcrack.
Week |
Topic |
Reading |
1 |
Introduction to information security, cryptography and number theory |
Lecture Slides, Handbook of Applied Cryptography (HAC) Sections 1.1, 1.2 2.2 2.4 |
2 |
Symmetric Cryptography (Block ciphers, Stream Ciphers) |
Lecture Slides, HAC Section 1.5 Chapters 6 and 7
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3 |
Cryptographic Hash Functions and Constructions |
Lecture Slides, HAC Chapter 9 |
4 |
Public Key Cryptography - RSA, El Gamal |
Lecture Slides, HAC Chapter 8 |
5 |
Advanced topics in Cryptography (Post Quantum cryptography, homomorphic encryption, secret sharing, cryptocurrency and blockchain) |
Lecture Slides |
6 |
Encrypted files and filesystems, block cipher modes |
Lecture Notes |
7 |
Authentication, protocols, signatures + Mide Term test |
Lecture Slides, Security Engineering (SE) Chapters 3, 5, 15 |
8 |
Encryption for network communications - SSL, SSH, PGP |
Lecture Slides, Notes, SE Chapter 20 |
9 |
Authorization and Access Control |
Lecture Slides, Notes, SE Chapters 4, 8, 9 + Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report |
10 |
Operations Security, Security Assessment |
Lecture Slides |
11 |
Software security, security assessment and penetration testing, incident response and forensics |
Lecture Slides, Notes , SE Chapter 25 |
12 |
Digital Forensics and Incident Response |
Lecture Slides |
13 |
Revision and exam preparation |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
At the end of the semester, you will receive a grade that reflects your achievement in the unit
Your final grade depends on your performance in each assessment task and on your ability to perform well enough on the hurdle assessment tasks.
For each task, you receive a mark that reflects your standard of performance. Then the different component marks are added up to determine an aggregated mark out of 100. In order to pass the unit, this aggregated mark needs to be at least 50.
You also need to be achieve a minimum standard of performance on the hurdle assessment tasks.
Hurdle Assessment Tasks
Not that assignment submission in this unit is not a hurdle requirement. However, if you do not make a reasonable attempt at the two assignments, you will be unlikely to pass the unit.
Your final grade is then a direct reflection of the aggregated mark (provided that you satisfy the hurdle requirements) according to the following:
If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.
If you are given a second opportunity to sit the final examination as a result of failing to meet the minimum mark required, you will be offered that chance during the same supplementary examination period and will be notified of the exact day and time after the publication of final results for the unit.
Date | Description |
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25/02/2019 | Lectures time had to be updated. |