CSC 481/681/781 – Spring 2026 – Schedule

The following gives a day-by-day breakdown of topics covered, readings assigned, and assignment handouts/due dates. Each topic includes several required readings that students should read before the topic is discussed in class – always look ahead a few days to see what readings you should be doing. Some topics also have supplemental (non-required) readings that students can look into if they want to delve more deeply into that topic.

The schedule in this class is flexible, and past dates will be updated to reflect what was actually covered. Future dates are always tentative and subject to change. Slides, assignments, and the associated reading materials will be posted as the course progresses.

Day 1: Monday, January 12

Reading: Textbook sections 1.1 and 1.4

Topic 1: Introduction of Course Information, Course Requirements, and Grading Policy Slides

Topic 2: Overview of computer security – basic goals and terminology Slides

Day 2: Wednesday, January 14

Assignment: You can start Assignment 1

Topics: Overview of computer security – basic goals and terminology (slides continued from last time)

No class on Monday, January 19 – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Day 3: Wednesday, January 21

Reading: Textbook, sections 1.2, 9.1–9.2

Topics: Security (access control) models Slides

Day 4: No class on Monday, January 26 - Winter storm

Day 5: Wednesday, January 28

Topics: Security (access control) models (slides continued from last time)

Assignment: Assignment 1 due

Day 6: Monday, February, 2

Reading: Textbook, sections 1.3, 8.1

Topics: Crypto Concepts, Classical Cipher, Number Sizes, Symmetric Cipher Slides

Day 7: Wednesday, February 4

Topics: Crypto Concepts, Classical Cipher, Number Sizes (slides continued from last time)**

Day 8: Monday, February 9

Topics: Review previous two oline classes, Symmetric Ciphers (slides continued from last time)

Assignment: You can start Assignment 2

Day 9: Wednesday, February 11

Topics: Probability Basics Slides

Day 10: Monday, February 16

Topics: Proving cipher security (security games), BEAST attack, padding oracle attack Slides

Day 11: Wednesday, February 18

Reading: Textbook, sections 1.3, 8.2

Topics: Public Key Cryptography Slides

Day 12: Monday, February 23

Topics: Public Key Cryptography Slides

Assignment: Assignment 2 due

Day 13: Wednesday, February 25

Topics: Review for Midterm exam

Day 14: Monday, March 2

Reading: Textbook, sections 1.3, 8.3

Topics: Hash Function Slides

Day 15: Wednesday, March 4

Assignment: You can start Assignment 3

Midterm Exam Answers

No class on March 9 – March 13 (Spring break)

Day 16: Monday, March 16

Assignment: Assignment 3 due

Topics: Hash Function Slides

Day 17: Wednesday, March 18

Reading: Textbook, sections 2

Topics: Go over the midterm exam, Physical Security Slides

Day 18: Monday, March 23

Topics: Physical Security (slides continued from last time)

Day 19: Wednesday, March 25

Reading: Textbook, sections 3.1-3.3

Topics: Operating System Security Slides

Day 20: Monday, March 30

Assignment: You can start Assignment 4

Topics: Operating System Security (slides continued from last time)

Day 21: Wednesday, April 1

Topics: Software Security Slides

Day 22: Monday, April 6

Topics: Software Security Slides

Day 23: Wednesday, April 8

Topics: Software Security Slides

Day 24: Monday, April 13

Assignment: Assignment 4 due

Topics: Software Security Slides

Day 25: Wednesday, April 15

Assignment: You can start Assignment 5

Topics: Web Security Slides

Day 26: Monday, April 20

Topics: Web Security Slides

Day 27: Wednesday, April 22

Topics: Network Security Slides

Day 28: Monday, April 27

Topics: Network Security Slides

Day 29: Wednesday, April 29

Assignment: Assignment 5 due

Topics: Class wrap-up and review Course Summary