COM SCI 136
Introduction to Computer Security
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, two hours; outside study, six hours. Enforced requisite: course 118. Introduction to basic concepts of information security necessary for students to understand risks and mitigations associated with protection of systems and data. Topics include security models and architectures, security threats and risk analysis, access control and authentication/authorization, cryptography, network security, secure application design, and ethics and law. Letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Class: Security class is very difficult. As professor explain, "this is the field where your opponent actively tries to screw you over." Teaching method is like this: class teaches theory where discussion practice those theory. However, the exam is purely on the theory. It is kinda hard. How to get best possible grade: As mention on the post on May 2010, you need to go to class. Before you attempt to take this class, try to mentally commit yourself to go to class every morning at 8 a.m. and listen to his slide lecture. Yes, he teaches by slide, because there is a lot of information. He does stop and explain if you have questions and ONLY IF you have questions. You have to actively follow his lecture. I did commit going to class, but after time zone change in the fall, I can't get up so early (because I commute); I ended up sleeping in. The exam is on what he said in lecture and in slide and in textbook. DON'T RELY on slide along, because after midterm, the slide is not helpful as the slide before midterm. Oh, one more thing about the slide: there are some "hidden" slides (some feature by Microsoft office). If you attempt to print out, those hidden slide does not get printed out. He said he will not test on the hidden slide. Do you willing to or trust him enough to take his words on it??? Yes, some information on the exam also come from the textbook. I think the best time to read the textbook is after listen to the lecture. You can determine what he didn't cover in class, but in the text. Discussion: Peter Peterson is my TA. He is very helpful and knowledgeable. The assignment is very fun to do. There are TON OF EXTRA CREDIT for the assignment. You might want to do them. :P I won't tell you what are the extra credit, because I think it is same every quarter. If you don't do well on the exam, consider the extra credit. Final thought: He uses slide; but but he tells you "stories" about everything on the slide. The stories is what you will remember. That is what make him better than other professor who uses slide. And you should read other post on May 2010.
Class: Security class is very difficult. As professor explain, "this is the field where your opponent actively tries to screw you over." Teaching method is like this: class teaches theory where discussion practice those theory. However, the exam is purely on the theory. It is kinda hard. How to get best possible grade: As mention on the post on May 2010, you need to go to class. Before you attempt to take this class, try to mentally commit yourself to go to class every morning at 8 a.m. and listen to his slide lecture. Yes, he teaches by slide, because there is a lot of information. He does stop and explain if you have questions and ONLY IF you have questions. You have to actively follow his lecture. I did commit going to class, but after time zone change in the fall, I can't get up so early (because I commute); I ended up sleeping in. The exam is on what he said in lecture and in slide and in textbook. DON'T RELY on slide along, because after midterm, the slide is not helpful as the slide before midterm. Oh, one more thing about the slide: there are some "hidden" slides (some feature by Microsoft office). If you attempt to print out, those hidden slide does not get printed out. He said he will not test on the hidden slide. Do you willing to or trust him enough to take his words on it??? Yes, some information on the exam also come from the textbook. I think the best time to read the textbook is after listen to the lecture. You can determine what he didn't cover in class, but in the text. Discussion: Peter Peterson is my TA. He is very helpful and knowledgeable. The assignment is very fun to do. There are TON OF EXTRA CREDIT for the assignment. You might want to do them. :P I won't tell you what are the extra credit, because I think it is same every quarter. If you don't do well on the exam, consider the extra credit. Final thought: He uses slide; but but he tells you "stories" about everything on the slide. The stories is what you will remember. That is what make him better than other professor who uses slide. And you should read other post on May 2010.
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