Students
COMP1300 – Introduction to Cyber Security
2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Matthew Mansour
Refer to ilearn
Yvette Blount
Refer to ilearn
Stephen McCombie
Refer to ilearn
Ed Moore
Refer to ilearn
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| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit tackles cyber security as a multidiscplinary issue. It introduces information security and important technology concepts as well as cyber hygiene principles to remain safe in the digital world. It discusses cybercriminality (perpetrators and activities on the dark web) and its impact on society and prompts to critically think about the relationship between cyber security and privacy, from a legal standpoint. Finally, this unit provides insights into the cybersecurity risks faced by business and the role that risk management plays in addressing those risks in the context of corporate governance.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
- ULO2: Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world.
- ULO3: Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
- ULO4: Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
- ULO5: Identify cybersecurity risks faced by business and relate the management of those risks to the enterprise governance.
General Assessment Information
Late Submission(s): “Late assessment must also be submitted through Turnitin. No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission incurs a 20% penalty). Late submissions will not be accepted after solutions have been discussed and/or made available. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved. Note: applications for Special Consideration Policy must be made within 5 (five) business days of the due date and time.”
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| In class assessment | 30% | No | Weeks 4/6/8/10/12 |
| Individual report | 30% | No | Week 6 |
| Final Take Home Essay. | 40% | No | TBA on ilearn |
In class assessment
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weeks 4/6/8/10/12
Weighting: 30%
This assessment task takes place in class (online or in class). It involves group work, debate and / or presentations. The Assessments happen on a fortnightly basis with the week prior being the preparation week. In order to complete the presentation you must be present in the preparation week also.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
- Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world.
- Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
- Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
Individual report
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 30%
The assessment task is to write a report with scholarly references that will address a contemporary topic relating to Cyber Security.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
- Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world.
- Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
- Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
- Identify cybersecurity risks faced by business and relate the management of those risks to the enterprise governance.
Final Take Home Essay.
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: TBA on ilearn
Weighting: 40%
A final essay is included as an assessment task for this unit to provide assurance that: i) the product belongs to the student and ii) the student has attained the knowledge and skills from the unit. The student will have a short period of 72 hours to complete the essay.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of technical concepts related to information security, computing, networking, and emerging technologies.
- Apply cyber hygiene principles to achieve personal security in the digital world.
- Report on cyber criminality (in terms of activities, perpetrators and their motives) as well as its impact on society.
- Critically evaluate the relation between cyber security and privacy in the context of a legal and regulatory framework.
- Identify cybersecurity risks faced by business and relate the management of those risks to the enterprise governance.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Teaching and Learning Strategy
COMP1300 is taught via lectures (Live via Zoom) and tutorials (Live on campus OR Live via Zoom - check timetables.mq.edu.au for which classes are on campus and which are online. NB You cannot mix modes). The feedback that you receive plays also a crucial role in your learning.
Lectures are used to introduce new material, give examples of the advances in Cyber Security and technologies and put them in a wider context. The unit is an introduction which in turn will be explored further in other units at Macquarie University.
Tutorials are small group classes which give you the opportunity to interact with your peers and with a tutor who has a sound knowledge of the subject. This also gives you a chance to practice your soft skills. NB. For this semester for COMP1300, tutorials start in week 2 and the Lectures start in week 1.
You have many opportunities to seek for and to receive feedback. During lectures, you are encouraged to ask the lecturer questions to clarify anything you might not be sure of.
Each week you should:
- Attend live lectures, take notes, ask questions
- Attend your tutorials and seek feedback from your tutor on your work
- Read assigned reading material, add to your notes and prepare questions for your lecturer or tutor
- Start working on any assessments immediately after they have been released.
Lecture notes are made available each week but these notes are intended as an outline of the lecture only and are not a substitute for your own notes or reading additional material.
Classes
Each week you should attend two hours of live lectures (via Zoom), and a one hour tutorial class (on campus OR online via Zoom)
Please note that you are required to submit a certain number of assessments. Failure to do so may result in you failing the unit.
Textbook.
Being a fast paced ever evolving unit, it was deemed that a textbook would not validate the complexity of Cyber Security. In turn we have used resources from 3 Faculties to give you as much exposure to Cyber Security and the real world.
Technology used and required
Echo
Digital recordings of lectures are available.
COMP1300 makes use of the following software in the lab:
- Microsoft Windows 10
- Microsoft Office 2016 +
- Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox or Chrome
Website
The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.
Assumed knowledge
Basic computer use skills.
Unit Schedule
|
Week |
Lecture Topics/Events |
Assessments |
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1 |
When... not if… Intro to Cyber Security unit. (MM) |
Tutorials start in week 2 Lectures start in week 1 |
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2 |
Cyber Hygiene – How clean are you? (MM) |
Practice in_class assessment – Data Breach Poster |
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3 |
The Human Factor (MM) |
In class assessment - Prep week |
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4 |
Basics of Protection (EM) |
In class assessment - Presentation week |
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5 |
Computing Basics for Cyber Security (EM) |
In class assessment - Prep week |
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6 |
Societal Security (YB) |
In class assessment - Presentation week & Major Report Due |
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7 |
Impact on Business and Cyber Governance – Who’s loses their job? (YB) |
In class assessment - Prep week
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8 |
Cybercriminal’s - Who is really running the show (SMC) |
In class assessment - Presentation week |
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9 |
Cybercrime – Are all crimes the same? (SMC) |
In class assessment - Prep Week |
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10 |
Effective Cyber Security incident response (SMC) |
In class assessment - Presentation Week |
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11 |
Industry Experts (MM) |
In class assessment - Prep Week |
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12 |
The Future – How is Cyber Security going to impact us (MM) |
In class assessment - Presentation Week |
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13 |
Discussion about the Final Exam (MM) |
Wrap up and Cyber Security Ethics Simulation |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
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
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
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
IT Help
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.
Changes from Previous Offering
Updated material and Assessments
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 27/02/2021 | Minor deletion in week 7, emailed Malcolm about it. Need it removed before it confuses students |
| 04/02/2021 | Hi Malcolm, notice a couple typos so I fixed them up, can we please approve again. Matt |
Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook