Short-term Cybersecurity Course

The following course is designed by the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) to introduce the audience to selected cybersecurity and privacy topics. They are aimed at a beginner/intermediate level. Basic computer science background is assumed. No specific background in cybersecurity/privacy is assumed. The modules will consist of some introductory material that assume no prior background as well as some material that touch upon active research topics. 

Module 1: Confidence in AI 

  • Identify security/privacy concerns in machine learning (ML) systems 

Topics

Part 1: Confidence in AI: Can we trust AI-based systems? 
Part 2: Meta-concerns in ML security/privacy 
Part 3: Laminator: Verifiable ML Property Cards using Hardware-Assisted Attestations
Part 4 : Amulet demonstration 

The above module will be led by the following CPI faculty member:

Dr. N. Asokan - Executive Director, Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) 

Professor, Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo 

Specializing in systems security, Professor Asokan leads the Secure Systems Group which is part of CrySP at the University of Waterloo. As a prominent, senior researcher, he also holds a Cheriton Chair in Software Systems since 2019.

Module 2: The Art of Digital Disguise: Hiding Storage and Communication 

  • Digital forensics and techniques for hiding, securing, and anonymizing digital activity. 

Topics

Part 1: Intro to Digital Forensics 
Part 2: Steganography and Watermarking 
Part 3: File Steganalysis Demonstration
Part 4: Disk Encryption and Plausibly-Deniable Storage
Part 5: Anonymous Communication and Covert Channels
Part 6: Untraceable Financial Transactions 

The above module will be led by the following CPI faculty member:

Dr. Diogo Barradas  - Associate Director, Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) 

Assistant Professor, Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo 

Professor Barradas completed his PhD on Information Systems and Computer Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) - Universidade de Lisboa. During this time, he conducted most of his research at the Distributed Systems Group at INESC-ID Lisboa

CPI will add more modules to this course and others as they become available.