Students

COMP1300 – Introduction to Cyber Security

2023 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Matthew Mansour
matthew.mansour@mq.edu.au
Refer to ilearn
Lecturer
Dinusha Vatsalan
dinusha.vatsalan@mq.edu.au
Refer to ilearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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.

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

General Faculty Policy on assessment submission deadlines and late submissions: 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

From 1 July 2022, Students enrolled in Session based units with written assessments will have the following late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information. 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

In this unit, late submissions will be accepted as follows: 

In class assessments, YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

Report, YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

Final Take Home Essay, YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration. 

To be eligible to pass this unit, it is necessary to obtain a mark of at least 50% in the unit overall.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
In class assessment 30% No Weeks 4/6/8/10/12
Individual report 30% No Week 7
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 7
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 Live lectures (in class) and streamed via Echo. 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 +
  • Edge 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

1

When... not if… Intro to Cyber Security unit. (MM)

Tutorials start in week 2

Lectures start in week 1

2

Cyber Hygiene – How clean are you? (MM)

Practice in_class assessment – Data Breach Poster

3

The Human Factor (MM)

In class assessment - Prep week

4

Basics of Protection (DV)

In class assessment - Presentation week

5

Computing Basics for Cyber Security (DV)

In class assessment - Prep week

6

Societal Security (MM)

In class assessment - Presentation week

7

Impact on Business and Cyber Governance – Who’s loses their job? (MM)

In class assessment - Prep week

&

Individual Report Due : Thurs 6th Apr @ 11.59pm

8

Cybercrime / Cybercriminal’s ( DV)

In class assessment - Presentation week

9

Cryptography (DV)

In class assessment - Prep Week

10

IoT and Emerging Tech (DV)

In class assessment - Presentation Week

11

Industry Experts (MM)

In class assessment - Prep Week

12

The Future – How is Cyber Security going to impact us (DV)

In class assessment - Presentation Week

13

Discussion about the Final Exam (MM / DV)

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:

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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

New Report

New SC policy

Hybrid Echo

Unit information based on version 2023.02 of the Handbook