CS 181S: System Security
CS 181S discusses security for computers and networked information systems.
It focuses on principles and techniques for implementing military as well as
commercial-grade secure systems. It is designed to give students practice
reasoning about and designing secure sytems as well as practical experience
with building and securing a software system.
Prerequisites: For CS 181S, you need to have a broad understanding of
organization and programming of computer systems. Students who have taken a
systems course, such as Pomona's or Harvey Mudd's CS 105 and their
transitive prerequisites, should be well positioned to take CS 181S. Knowledge
of operating systems, computer networks, and/or cryptography will be helpful.
Assignments might require the use of standard tools and languages such as C,
Unix, web servers, etc. You either need to be familiar with these technologies
or to be committed to investing extra time to learn them as you go.
Lectures
This class will be offered online in Fall 2020. There will be two recorded lectures each week. Lectures, and the embedded exercises, must be completed before class on Monday. See the schedule for details.
Synchronous Classes
There will be two synchronous classes per week, which will take
place over Zoom from 12:45-2:00pm PT on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Attendence is required. However, I will waive the attendence
requirement for students with logistical concerns (e.g., time zones,
network bandwidth, or conflicting commitments); if you would like
to have your attendence requirement waived, you must speak to me in
advance.
Instructor
|
Eleanor Birrell eleanor.birrell@pomona.edu Edmunds 221 |
Office hours: Monday 5-7pm PT and Thursday and Friday 9-11am PT.
The best way to contact me is by email or on slack. I try to respond to all messages within 24 hours. |
Assignments
There will be 7-8 homework assignments in CS 181S; these will be a
mix between theoretical assignments and programming assignments.
You will have an opportunity to work on each weekly assignment during
our synchronous class on Wednesdays.
Note that assignments
in this course are often deliberately underspecified, open-ended,
and motivated by problems that arise in the real world—messy as it
is. You will have to think on your own, build tools, refine problem
specifications, make reasonable and defensible assumptions, and be
creative. Success in this course, as in life, depends heavily on you
figuring out what's important and concentrating on that.
You get seven late days that may be used at your discretion to
submit assignments after the deadline with no penalty. For
assignments that are completed in pairs, both you and your partner
must spend a late day. Further extensions after you have exhausted
all of your late days will be granted only in exceptional
circumstances.
Project
There will be a semester-long project in this course, with various checkpoints during the sememster. See the project page for details.
Grades
I expect the breakdown for the overall course grade in CS 181S to
be as follows:
Homework Assignments: 60%
Course Project: 30%
Participation: 10%
Academic Integrity
In general, collaboration is encouraged in this course. In addition
to working with others on pair and group assignments, you may discuss
approaches to solving problems with anyone in this class, including
me. As specified in the department policy, you may help, or receive
help, in using systems and tools, in debuggin code, and in woring
with high-level design issues. However, using material from any
external source---web pages, people, or books---is forbidden unless
explicitly specified otherwise. Except for material from the textbook
or the course website, you may not copy, retype, or share a copy of
any file. If you have questions about what constitutes appropriate or
inappropriate collaboration, please speak with me. When in doubt,
credit your sources.
Course materials provided to you, including graded assignments, are
for your use in this course. You should not publish solutions to the
homework assignments or distribute them to other people or
organizations.
Logistical Accomodations
I am committed to ensuring that everyone can successfully master the material in this course, no matter what your current circumstances. If you find yourself unable to fully participate in the course or unable to meet specific requirements due to logistical challenges (including time zones or network issues), let me know and we will figure out an accomodation.
Disability Accomodations
Pomona College is committed to providing equl opportunity for
participation in all programs, services, and activities. Requests for
accomodations may be made by contacting the Disability Coordinator
on your home campus. At Pomona College, that person is Associate
Dean of Students Jan Collins-Eaglin. Pomona College's policy on
disability accomodations can be found on the Dean of Students'
website.
Accomodation forms must be submitted and accomodations agreed upon by
the last day to add classes, or within five days of the date on which
the form was signed by an appropriate dean, whichever comes later.
Many occomodations will be handled through the Student Disability
Resource Center in the Tranquada Student Services Center.