Information Security - Advanced topics

This is the 3rd course in the intermediate, undergraduate-level offering that makes up the larger Cybersecurity Fundamentals MicroBachelors Program. We recommend taking them in order, unless you have a background in these areas already and feel comfortable skipping ahead.

1. Information Security - Introduction to Information Security
2. Information Security - Authentication and Access Control
3. Information Security - Advanced Topics
4. Network Security - Introduction to Network Security
5. Network Security - Protocols
6. Network Security - Advanced Topics
7. Penetration Testing - Discovering Vulnerabilities
8. Penetration Testing - Exploitation
9. Penetration Testing - Post Exploitation

These topics build upon the learnings that are taught in the introductory-level Computer Science Fundamentals MicroBachelors program, offered by the same instructor.

This is a self-paced course that provides a continuation of information security and cybersecurity topics. Among the topics covered are Injection Attacks and Defenses, Privacy and Anonymity Software Validity and Rights, Cryptocurrency. Students start with a high-level view of prevalent attacks on web applications and cover some strategies for mitigating those attacks. We will look at three major attacks in this lesson: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection, and request forgery (CSRF) attacks.

We follow up with a look at the privacy and different methods users can obtain anonymity. Next, we take a look at digital rights management and trusted computing. We hypothesize how we know the software and hardware we are running is legitimate and has not been modified or stolen.

Lastly, we dive into the technical background for the very popular BitCoin, and it’s sister cryptocurrencies. We have a guest lecturer from Columbia University speak to use about the history and modern-day uses of these cryptocurrencies.

Industry Certification Preparation

This program covers much of the material that is assessed on the CompTIA’s Security+ certification exam. Upon program completion, verified track learners will receive a 36% discount code for the CompTIA Security+ exam.

1. Define Same-Origin Policy
2. Describe SQL Injection and Common defenses
3. Describe Cross Site Request Forgery (XSRF) and Common Defenses
4. Describe Cross Site Scripting (XSS) and Common Defenses
5. Discuss different definitions of Privacy
6. Define anonymity
7. Define contextual integrity
8. Describe Differential Privacy
9. Describe Mix Networks
10. Describe how Tor Provides Anonymity
11. Define Digital Certificates
12. Describe the Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
13. Describe DNS Amplification
14. Distinguish between Watermarking and Steganography
15. Describe How Bit-Coin Prevents an Attacker from Faking a Chain
16. Describe Why Minors Validate Transactions
17. Describe Why BitCoin Mining Consumes So Much Power and Some Alternatives
18. Describe Threats to the BitCoin EcoSystem

Week 1 - Injection Attacks and Defenses

Week 2 - Privacy and Anonymity

Week 3 - Software Validity and Rights

Week 4 - Cryptocurrency

Week 5 - Final Exam