41185 Emerging Topics in Cybersecurity and Privacy
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 41181 Information Security and Management OR 48730 Cybersecurity OR 41182 System Security OR 41184 Secure Programming and Penetration Testing
Description
This subject covers the emerging topics in professional and industrial cybersecurity fields, especially the contemporary IT security theories and practical skills by series of guest lectures and workshops. Students develop a professional understanding of Cybersecurity through investigating emerging threats and vulnerabilities of web applications and systems, cutting-edge privacy and ethical issues, and analysing the latest system security approaches. Current trends and challenges in Cybersecurity are explored through studying professional practice and reviewing research literature. Students apply contemporary requirements elicitation, analysis, modelling, specification, and validation techniques to real project in small teams.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Examine various aspects of security systems according to new research outcomes and evolving understandings of security threats. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Evaluate the design, implementation, configuration and application of existing security systems based on the latest IT security research outcomes. (C.1) |
| 3. | Synthesize literature and practically apply new research outcomes and approaches to real problems. (C.1) |
| 4. | Collaborate to communicate research synthesis alongside practical results. (E.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 1.4. Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
- 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
- 3.4. Professional use and management of information.
- 3.6. Effective team membership and team leadership.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject uses active learning strategies, which involves a combination of lectures, tutorials and workshops to support a research-inspired learning strategy. It also includes elements of guided self-study learning.
Students will be required to review online materials, pre-readings and research literatures before taking the on-campus workshops. Within workshops, students collaboratively engage in intensive discussion and activities on selected topics or projects based on guest lectures. Students also present the current research issues and conduct practical lab in IT security independently. In a competitive group project, students will be divided into two teams. One team will perform defensive security engineering and the other will perform offensive security engineering. During the project, students will develop reflective skills to identify how they would improve both group and individual activities through UTSOnline discussion boards as required to communicate ideas and questions with peers when studying the subject.
Students must attend workshop sessions and tutorials to complete the required assessment tasks. Feedback for assessment tasks will be given to students once the marking is finalised within 2-3 weeks of submission. Students will also receive continued feedback for their workshops and tutorial exercises on weekly basis. This will be administered by the tutor in the tutorial sessions where the deficiencies in the answers to problems are pointed out to students.
Content (topics)
- Cyberspace Security and Safety
- Intrusion Detection
- Identity and Access Management
- System Security
- Biometric and Security
- Privacy and Ethical issues
Assessment
Assessment task 1: An essay which describes current research issues in IT security
| Intent: | An essay which describes current research issues in IT security. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 3000 words report |
Assessment task 2: A project which includes the methods and results of identifying vulnerabilities on real online systems.
| Intent: | A project which includes the methods and results of identifying vulnerabilities on real online systems. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1, D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 2000 words report |
Assessment task 3: Workshop presentation
| Intent: | The workshop presentation will demonstrate the application of concepts, strategies and techniques learned from guest lectures. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | The presentation length is subject to change according to different topics. |
Required texts
There is no prescribed text for this subject.
Other resources
FEIT student resources: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/current-students-information-faculty-engineering-and-it/manage-your-course