Computing & Security

Module code: 7CCSMAPP
Credit level: 7

To provide specialist knowledge and understanding of the core aspects of policy representation in the context of Computer Science, including an understanding of access control and privacy policy formulation and implementation for centralised and decentralised computer systems.

Module code: 7CCSMAST
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 

Aims
To introduce the underlying concepts and practical applications of information security engineering at a level that reflects the current state-of-the-art.

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you should be able to understand in detail how different types of attacks on computer systems and networks are carried out; understand how such attacks can be reliably prevented or detected.

Provisional Syllabus
Minimal Linux and scripting
Physical attacks
DNS, queries and resolvers, DNS poisoning
ARP, principles, spoofing and poisoning
Network and port scanning
Network packet factory
Firewall and Intrusion Detection technologies
Web security: server side (SQL, Xpath and code injections)
Web security: client side (Phishing, XSS)
Email security

Module code: 7CCSMCFC
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 

Aims
The aim of this module is to define, analyse and compare abstract models of computation and their associated programming paradigms.

Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing the module you should be able to demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of formal languages and the principal models of computation and be able to work with theoretical/research-based knowledge at the forefront of the subject; judiciously apply and combine tools and techniques (frequently in novel ways) to solve a range of complex subject-specific problems with minimal direction; analyse subject material, draw inferences, and find relationships that demand that innovative thinking be engaged in and creativity be exhibited in formulating solutions; critically evaluate, exercise judgement, and compare and contrast relevant material with minimal guidance and to consider and argue for alternative, novel approaches; demonstrate a high degree of independence in managing your own learning and reflecting upon it in order to complete research tasks autonomously.

Provisional Syllabus
Introduction to abstract models of computation
Finite Automata, Push-Down Automata and applications to parsing
Turing machines
Functional calculi
Interaction-based systems
Concurrent computation

Module code: 7CCSMCIS
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 

Aims
To introduce both theoretical and practical aspects of cryptography, authentication and information security.

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you should be able to understand the relevant mathematical techniques associated with cryptography; understand the principles of cryptographic techniques and perform implementations of selected algorithms in this area; appreciate the application of security techniques in solving real-life security problems in practical systems.
You should note that this module contains several advanced mathematical techniques. For students having a reasonable mathematical background, it should not be a problem. Explanations are given during the lectures/tutorials and examples are studied in details. Nevertheless, an in-depth understanding of these techniques is required for the examination and personal work has to be anticipated.

Provisional Syllabus
Basic terminology and concepts:
Goals of cryptography, terminology and notation players; Basic cryptographic functions
Number theory preliminaries:
Congruent modulo n, equivalent class modulo n; Integer modulo n (Zn):
Multiplicative inverse:
Relatively prime; Euler‟s theorem; Fermat‟s little theorem:
EEA (Extended Euclidean Algorithm)
CRT (Chinese Remainder Theorem)
Ciphers:
Block ciphers (substitution, transposition, product); Stream ciphers; Modes of operation (ECB, CBC, CFB, OFB)
Cryptosystems:
Block cipher: DES (Data Encryption Standard), AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
Public-key: RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adelman), El gamal
One-way hash function: SHA and MD5 (Message Digest 5)
Key-establishment protocols:
Symmetric and asymmetric techniques (Diffie-Hellman, Needham-Schroeder, Otway-Rees)
Public-key encryption, basic and advanced Kerberos protocols
Authentication and identification:
Concepts; Fiat-Shamir and Feige-Fiat-Shamir protocols; Zero-knowledge identification protocol
Digital signatures:
Classification; Digital signature schemes: RSA; El-Gamal; DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) and DSS (Digital Signature Standard)
Information Security:
Password systems: number of acceptable passwords for a given password policy, exhaustive search
password ageing
Introduction to viruses, secure communication, social engineering (phishing), firewalls, buffer overflow, denial of services

Module code: 7CCSMGPR
Credit level: 7

To provide the experience of working in a syndicate to design, implement and document a substantial software product.

Module code: 7CCSMART
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Full-year 
Assessment:  coursework 

Aims
To teach you to read and understand research papers and research lectures on your own, and pursue a research topic.

Learning Outcomes
You should obtain a good understanding of a particular technical area at a level that goes substantially beyond the taughts MSc materia.  You should also learn to explore a research area, to identify the important issues and understand their connection with each other and to demonstrate your technical understanding by presenting the results to a scientifica audience.

Provisional Syllabus
In this optional module, you will study advance research literature preferably in an area that is related to the material taught in your programme.

7CCSMART is a first-term module, with work starting at the beginning of the first term, but with the assignment continuing into the second term. Lectures will cover research methods, report/paper writing, and presentation techniques. You must attend at least five selected research seminars during the first term and read several related research papers.

You must agree your choice of research topic with the module organiser, which must be on a topic of in the research area of one of the members of the Department. Towards the end of the first term, you must submit a first draft of a report (approximately 10-15 pages), which will be reviewed by the organiser and other students. The final draft of the report must be submitted in the second term. The submitted report forms the basis of the assessment.

Topics will include:
Doing Research
Writing
Writing Scientific Papers
Presenting Scientific Papers
References
Sources
Refereeing

Module code: 7CCSMASE
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 

Aims
To convey an understanding of the basic elements of software measurement and testing, in particular focusing on automated test data generation and with a discussion of the relative strengths and weakness of each technique.

Learning Outcomes
To be able to describe, apply and critique several well-known software metrics. To be able to describe and apply several well-known software testing techniques. To be able to compare testing techniques and present arguments relating to the most appropriate choice thereof.

Provisional Syllabus
Measurement: Representation and modelling, Scales, Structural Measures
Unit testing: Control Flowgraph Based testing including Data Flow based testing
Finding test cases using test data generation techniques. Coverage
Slicing and static analysis techniques
Industrial applications and industrial relevance of testing
Comparative software testing techniques

Module code: 7CCSMCOM
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 

Aims
The aim of this module is to define, analyse and compare abstract models of computation and their associated programming paradigms.

Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing the module you should be able to demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of formal languages and the principal models of computation and be able to work with theoretical/research-based knowledge at the forefront of the subject; judiciously apply and combine tools and techniques (frequently in novel ways) to solve a range of complex subject-specific problems with minimal direction; analyse subject material, draw inferences, and find relationships that demand that innovative thinking be engaged in and creativity be exhibited in formulating solutions; critically evaluate, exercise judgement, and compare and contrast relevant material with minimal guidance and to consider and argue for alternative, novel approaches; demonstrate a high degree of independence in managing your own learning and reflecting upon it in order to complete research tasks autonomously.

Provisional Syllabus
Introduction to abstract models of computation
Finite Automata, Push-Down Automata and applications to parsing
Turing machines
Functional calculi
Interaction-based systems
Concurrent computation

Module code: 7CCSMDSI
Credit level: 7

The aims of this course are to present properties, implementations, and applications of fundamental and advanced data structures required for the efficient representation, organisation, searching, and manipulation of computer data. The course uses the C++ programming language as the implementation environment.

Module code: 7CCSMDBT
Credit level: 7

To study present and predicted developments in database technology from a formal perspective.

Module code: 7CCSMDSM
Credit level: 7

This course aims to provide an overall understanding of the basic concepts and practical technology of distributed computing, an in-depth understanding of the considerations applied in designing software for distributed systems. It will give students knowledge of algorithmic and architectural techniques used to address these considerations, and provide means of assessing how well novel technologies are able to handle faults in distributed systems.

Module code: 7CCSMITL
Credit level: 7

To provide students with a critical understanding of those aspects of the law that are most relevant to the work of IT-professionals.

Module code: 7CCSMSIA
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 

Aims
This module will cover different approaches for building internet applications and the choice of design techniques and technologies involved from a software engineering perspective, considering issues of efficiency, modularity and maintainability.

Learning Outcomes
You will gain the ability to design and implement internet-based applications in a modular manner, using appropriate languages and techniques. You will also gain the ability to specify and design medium-sized enterprise information systems using appropriate languages and techniques.

Provisional Syllabus
Model-driven architecture and application to internet applications
Client-side processing techniques: JavaScript, HTML
Server-side processing techniques: JSP, Servlets, database interfaces, sessions, connection pools
Modularity and maintainability of internet applications
Java EE architecture and patterns
Web services

Module code: 7CCSMTSP
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 

Aims
This unit is devoted to algorithms processing strings and texts efficiently. These types of algorithms are used for software design in the domains of operating systems utilities, search engines on the Internet, data retrieval systems, analysis of genetic sequences, and natural language processing, for example.

Learning Outcomes
On completing the module, you should be able to design and implement exact and efficient algorithms for matching patterns in textual data, building indexes for files, and more generally for solving algorithmic problems on strings and sequences.

Provisional Syllabus
Basic concepts:
Periods in strings
Finite automata and regular expressions
Exact pattern matching:
Brute-force algorithms for pattern matching
The Knuth-Morris-Pratt algorithm
The Boyer-Moore algorithm
The Karp-Rabin algorithm
Horspool's algorithm
Multiple pattern matching:
The Aho-Corasick automaton
Two-dimensional pattern matching
Structures for indexes:
Suffix arrays
Suffix trees
Suffix automata
Regular Pattern Matching
From regular expression to automata
Simulation of deterministic automata

Module code: 7CCSMINT
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 

Aims
To provide an overall understanding of the communication model used on the Internet. To provide an in-depth understanding of the main underlying software components of the Internet. To provide an overview of the main languages used on the Internet. To provide an understanding of security threats to Internet application and the main technologies used to tackle them. To give you an understanding of the motivations behind internet technologies, suitable for you to evaluate current and future options.

Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing this module you will:
Development of Knowledge and Understanding
Have a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the computational model underlying the Internet and recent developments in this area.
Know some of the languages used to display, represent, and manipulate information on the Internet.
Understand the security mechanisms used to protect Internet applications from unauthorised use.
Understand how protocols and languages combine to solve communication problems.
Be aware of the issues concerning privacy of personal information on the internet, and be able to apply techniques to protect privacy in any Internet applications you develop.
Cognitive/Intellectual Skills
Be able to analyse Internet-related problems using appropriate techniques and evaluating alternatives.
Be able to design solutions to such problems and evaluate the success of those solutions, possibly developing novel approaches.
Apply your knowledge of the Internet and its languages to these solutions.
Key/transferable skills
Know how to access and evaluate different sources of information regarding Internet standards, and technology standards more generally.
Have experience of solving technical, Internet-related, problems, and arguing for solutions to them.
Practical Skills
Be able to apply your knowledge of languages to meet appropriate software requirements.

Provisional Syllabus
Introduction to the Internet
Historical perspective and current context
Architecture of the Internet
Internet infrastructure
Addressing models
Web servers
Communication model
Internet reference model
TCP/IP
IPv4 and IPv6
Connection handling and flow control
HTTP and other application layer protocols
Resource location
Web languages fundamentals
HTML/XHTML
Form handling
XML
XML validation with schemas
Web service languages
Security on the Internet
Authentication methods
Digital certificates
Public and private key encryption
SSL
Introduction to Web models of information
Semantic Web
Grid computing