CTU FEE Moodle
Introduction to Computer Security
B241 - Winter 2024/2025
Introduction to Computer Security - B4M36BSY
| Credits | 6 |
| Semesters | Winter |
| Completion | Assessment + Examination |
| Language of teaching | Czech |
| Extent of teaching | 2P+2C |
Annotation
This course aims to teach students cybersecurity fundamentals by combining penetration testing with defense strategies. Using an innovative blend of lectures and practical tutorials, students engage in highly interactive classes. Each new concept is immediately reinforced with hands-on exercises, allowing students to apply what they have learned in real-time.
Throughout the semester, the course integrates both attack and defense techniques. In realistic scenarios accessed via a cyber range, students will practice a wide range of skills: reconnaissance, scanning, exploiting vulnerabilities, privilege escalation, lateral movement, exfiltration, malware analysis, network security forensics, binary reversing, log analysis, intrusion detection systems, honeypots, and applications of machine learning and AI in cybersecurity.
Classes are in English. Teachers speak English, Czech, Spanish, Greek, and Bosnian.
Throughout the semester, the course integrates both attack and defense techniques. In realistic scenarios accessed via a cyber range, students will practice a wide range of skills: reconnaissance, scanning, exploiting vulnerabilities, privilege escalation, lateral movement, exfiltration, malware analysis, network security forensics, binary reversing, log analysis, intrusion detection systems, honeypots, and applications of machine learning and AI in cybersecurity.
Classes are in English. Teachers speak English, Czech, Spanish, Greek, and Bosnian.
Study targets
After successfully completing the course, students will be prepared for junior penetration testing roles or to continue as cybersecurity researchers with expertise in AI.
Course outlines
1. Basic concepts in cybersecurity, an overview of protocols and their properties
2. Network reconnaissance, scanning, and basic network analysis
3. Attacking devices in the network, vulnerabilities, exploits
4. Detection of attacks, hardening user access, host-based IDS
5. Virtualization, sandboxing, honeypots, and threat intelligence
6. Privilege escalation, persistence, side-channel attacks
7. Binary exploitation & secure coding
8. Binary reversing, static & dynamic code analysis
9. Malware, C&C channels, denial of service attacks
10. Malware detection, packet analysis, netflows, ML for cybersecurity
11. Web attacks, browser security, practical aspects of cryptography
12. Security of mobile devices
2. Network reconnaissance, scanning, and basic network analysis
3. Attacking devices in the network, vulnerabilities, exploits
4. Detection of attacks, hardening user access, host-based IDS
5. Virtualization, sandboxing, honeypots, and threat intelligence
6. Privilege escalation, persistence, side-channel attacks
7. Binary exploitation & secure coding
8. Binary reversing, static & dynamic code analysis
9. Malware, C&C channels, denial of service attacks
10. Malware detection, packet analysis, netflows, ML for cybersecurity
11. Web attacks, browser security, practical aspects of cryptography
12. Security of mobile devices
Exercises outlines
Tutorials and labs are together.
Literature
• Zalewski, M. (2005) Silence on the wire: a field guide to passive reconnaissance and indirect attacks
• Lyon, G. F. (2008) Nmap Network Scanning: The Official Nmap Project Guide to Network Discovery and Security Scanning
• Sanders, C. (2020) Intrusion Detection Honeypots: Detection Through Deception. Applied Network Defense.
• Chappel, L. (2012) Wireshark Network Analysis.
• Anderson, R. (2020) Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems
• Stuttard, D., & Pinto, M. (2011). The web application hacker's handbook: Finding and exploiting security flaws. John Wiley & Sons.
• Lyon, G. F. (2008) Nmap Network Scanning: The Official Nmap Project Guide to Network Discovery and Security Scanning
• Sanders, C. (2020) Intrusion Detection Honeypots: Detection Through Deception. Applied Network Defense.
• Chappel, L. (2012) Wireshark Network Analysis.
• Anderson, R. (2020) Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems
• Stuttard, D., & Pinto, M. (2011). The web application hacker's handbook: Finding and exploiting security flaws. John Wiley & Sons.
Requirements
• Basic knowledge of how to operate Linux systems. You should be able to complete at least the first half of the Bandit challenge levels (https://overthewire.org/wargames/bandit/).
• Basic knowledge of Internet operations and networking
• Fluent knowledge of how to use SSH (connect, copy files through and from)
What equipment student needs:
• Computer to take the class and participate in the assignments
• A laptop that can connect to the Internet, able to SSH, and install new software
• An SSH client installed
• Wireshark installed (https://www.wireshark.org/download.html)
What Students Will Be Provided With
• Detailed weekly coursebook with all the theory, commands, and tools used in class
• Live video stream and recordings of every class and recordings of previous years
• Access to the class cyber range to conduct the assignments and exercises
• Access to a chat system to ask questions before, during, and after class
• Basic knowledge of Internet operations and networking
• Fluent knowledge of how to use SSH (connect, copy files through and from)
What equipment student needs:
• Computer to take the class and participate in the assignments
• A laptop that can connect to the Internet, able to SSH, and install new software
• An SSH client installed
• Wireshark installed (https://www.wireshark.org/download.html)
What Students Will Be Provided With
• Detailed weekly coursebook with all the theory, commands, and tools used in class
• Live video stream and recordings of every class and recordings of previous years
• Access to the class cyber range to conduct the assignments and exercises
• Access to a chat system to ask questions before, during, and after class