SRA 221: Overview of Information Security

Overview

The goal of this course is to provide an overview of information security. The topics include software/web security, cryptography, network security, pub key infra, access control, and machine learning security/privacy.

Prerequisites

• SRA 111

• IST 140 or CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 121

Logistics

• Instructor: Jinyuan Jia, jinyuan@psu.edu
• Teaching Assistant: Matthew Joseph Gergus (mjg6926@psu.edu), and Alexander Rieth (afr5788@psu.edu)
• Time: Monday/Wednesday 04:00 PM - 05:15 PM
• Location: Chambers Bldg 111
• Office Hours:
  • Jinyuan Jia: Wednesday 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, E325 Westgate
  • Matthew Joseph Gergus: 12:00 pm -2:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm on Sunday, Zoom link: https://psu.zoom.us/j/2370082275
  • Alexander Rieth: 12:20 pm - 2:20 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm on Sunday, Zoom link: https://psu.zoom.us/j/7973166084

Course Materials

• Recommended (not required):
  • Computer security: principles and practice, William Stallings, Lawrie Brown, Third Edition
  • Principles of Computer Security: CompTIA Security+ and Beyond, Sixth Edition (Exam SY0-601), 6th Edition. Link to Free Edition in the PSU Library, you will need to login to the Library System to access this O’Reilly EBOOK (https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/principles-of-computer/9781260474329/).
• Required: Lab Access - Purchasing Cyrin Lab Access is required the first week of class (https://cyrin.atcorp.com/course/view.php?id=532 ) . Your instructor will advise you on the process which consists of creating a Cyrin account and paying for access via Debit or Credit card. The current access fee is $77.5 for all labs used in the course.

Tentative Schedule (Subject to Change)

Final Project (Group)

• Students can form groups of at most 3 students for the final project.
• Class project: The project should be related to security.
  • Designed by your group
    • A demo of information security in real-world applications.
  • Select one of the projects designed by the instructor (see Canvas and Course Introduction Slides for details)

Grading Policy

• Labs & Assessments 30%
• Exams 30%
• Group Project 20%
• Quiz 20%

Final grade cutoff:

• A [93%, 100%]
• A- [90%, 93%)
• B+ [87%, 90%)
• B [83%, 87%)
• B- [80%, 83%)
• C+ [77%, 80%)
• C [70%, 77%)
• D [60%, 70%)
• F [0%, 60%)

Late Submission Policy

• All assignments are due on the due date at 11:59 pm (EST).
• Students can submit late with the penalty of 10% deduction for every 24 hours late (up to 4 days).
• After 4 days, no more late submission is allowed.
• Please email the instructor regarding extensions for special cases.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT

Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University’s Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.

Academic integrity includes a commitment by all members of the University community not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contact information for every Penn State campus (http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/disability-coordinator). For further information, please visit Student Disability Resources website (http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/).

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: See documentation guidelines (http://equity.psu.edu/sdr/guidelines). If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES STATEMENT

Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation.

Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS) (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/): 814-863-0395

Counseling and Psychological Services at Commonwealth Campuses (https://senate.psu.edu/faculty/counseling-services-at-commonwealth-campuses/)

Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400 Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741

EDUCATIONAL EQUITY/REPORT BIAS STATEMENTS

Consistent with University Policy AD29, students who believe they have experienced or observed a hate crime, an act of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment that occurs at Penn State are urged to report these incidents as outlined on the University’s Report Bias webpage (http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/)