ECE 471/571 – Fundamentals of Information and Network Security
Spring 2026 · MWF, 1:00–1:50pm
Course Overview
Introduction to information and network security: security concepts and basic cryptographic building blocks, and their application to message and user authentication, confidentiality, privacy, anonymity, authorization, certification, non-repudiation, and revocation. The course combines theory and practice — students learn basic attacks and defenses hands-on through lab assignments (based on the SEED Labs) carried out in virtual-machine environments.
Required textbook: Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice, 8th Edition, W. Stallings (Pearson, 2020). Prerequisites: ECE 275 and ECE 310 (or equivalent); ECE 478/578 recommended.
Schedule
Module 1 – Introduction to Information Security
Week 1 (Jan. 14–18)
- Information security objectives
- Schematic of a secure communication system
- Formal definition of a cryptosystem and adversary models
Module 2 – Classical Encryption Techniques
Week 2 (Jan. 19–25) — no class 1/19 (holiday)
- Number theory basics
- Early cryptosystems: substitution and transposition
Module 3 – Cryptanalysis and Measures of Security
Week 3 (Jan. 26–Feb. 1)
- Early cryptosystems (cont’d); cryptanalysis of early cryptosystems
- Perfect secrecy, ideal cryptosystems, and the one-time pad
Modules 3–4 – Measures of Security and Symmetric Key Cryptography
Week 4 (Feb. 2–8)
- The notions of symmetric key cryptography and computational security
- Block cipher, product cipher, and substitution-permutation networks
Module 4 – Symmetric Key Cryptography (cont’d)
Week 5 (Feb. 9–15)
- The Data Encryption Standard (DES) and its security
- Finite field arithmetic and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Week 6 (Feb. 16–22)
- Modes of operation
- Pseudorandom numbers and stream ciphers
Module 5 – Hash Functions, Message Integrity Check & Authentication
Week 7 (Feb. 23–Mar. 1)
- Hash functions: definitions, security properties, and examples (MD series, SHA)
- Message Authentication Codes (MAC), HMAC
- Hash applications, including commitment protocols
Module 6 – Public Key Cryptography
Week 8 (Mar. 2–8)
- More number theory basics
- Principles of Public-Key Cryptography (PKC)
- Common public key cryptosystems: RSA
Week 9 (Mar. 9–15) – Spring Recess, no class
Module 7 – PKC and Digital Signatures
Week 10 (Mar. 16–22)
- Diffie-Hellman key exchange and ElGamal
- Common digital signature schemes: RSA, ElGamal, etc.
Modules 7–8 – Key Management and Distribution
Week 11 (Mar. 23–29)
- Symmetric key distribution schemes, Key Distribution Centers (KDC)
- Public key distribution and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
- Midterm exam, TBD
Module 9 – User Authentication
Week 12 (Mar. 30–Apr. 5)
- User authentication principles
- Password authentication protocols
- Challenge-response protocols and common pitfalls
Modules 9–10 – User Authentication and Network Security
Week 13 (Apr. 6–12)
- User authentication: Kerberos
- TCP/IP threats
Module 10 – Network Security Protocols
Week 14 (Apr. 13–19)
- IP security: the IPSec protocol
- Transport-level security: SSL and TLS protocols
Modules 10–11 – Network Security and System Security
Week 15 (Apr. 20–26)
- Electronic mail security: S/MIME, PGP
- Malware, worms, DDoS attacks, S-BGP
Module 11 – System Security
Week 16 (Apr. 27–May 3)
- Intrusion detection
- Firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
Week 17 (May 4–10) — no class 5/8 (reading day)
- System security (cont’d)
Finals Week
Final Exam – Monday, May 11
Schedule subject to change.