Cutting-Edge Blockchain Security Mechanisms from Coursera

The Cutting-Edge Blockchain Security Mechanics course is a part of the Certified Blockchain Security Professional (CBSP) Exam Prep Specialization and introduces you to fundamental cryptographic principles. You will gain insight into concepts such as an overview of security challenges, inherently vulnerable particularities, programming vulnerabilities, and attacks and measures in cryptographic systems and smart contracts. The course also delves into threats like denial-of-service attacks and race conditions and strategies to address them.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Explore architectural and cryptographic security measures designed to safeguard cryptographic systems and smart contracts.

2. Explain various security vulnerabilities, threats in smart contract development, reentrancy, unchecked return values, and phishing attacks.

3. Identify and mitigate common security threats, such as denial of service attacks, race conditions, and frontrunning, among others.

This course is best suited for individuals interested in blockchain security and cybersecurity, and it is suitable for both coding and non-coding professionals.

What's inside

Syllabus

Advanced strategies for blockchain security

In this module, you will gain insight into the architectural security measures implemented in blockchain technology for secure communication. You will also learn about various cryptographic security measures to enhance the security of blockchain. Further, you will also explore advanced privacy-enhancing features in blockchain along with the concepts of confidential transactions that protect your data. Finally, you will learn about cryptographic techniques, such as homomorphic encryption and threshold cryptography to enable security and privacy.

Smart contract vulnerabilities: Part 1

In this module, you will discover smart contract security by exploring various vulnerabilities and threats that have the potential to compromise the integrity of blockchain-based applications. You will discover the concepts of reentrancy in smart contract security and the risks associated with arithmetic operations. You will also gain insight into the significance of validating return values from external function calls. Furthermore, you will explore phishing attacks that attack tx.origin variable. Finally, you will learn about the role of oracles in the blockchain ecosystem, and the common mistakes committed during the deployment of smart contracts.

Smart contract vulnerabilities: Part 2

In this module, you will learn the importance of implementing robust security mechanisms in blockchain systems to prevent blockchain from potential exploits. You will explore various security implications related to denial-of-service attacks, timestamp dependence, and short addresses, among others. Additionally, you will gain insights into the concepts of race conditions vulnerabilities and front-running attacks that compromise the security of smart contracts. Finally, you will also learn the techniques for preventing the risks associated with race conditions, front-running, and shadowing variables and explore some real-life examples of security attacks and the techniques used by attackers to compromise blockchain systems.

Peer review assignment

This is a peer-review assignment that explores different aspects of blockchain security, covering tools like multi-signatures and techniques like zero-knowledge proofs. From safeguarding against reentrancy to addressing real-world threats like denial-of-service, learners delve into practical challenges. The study encourages proposing solutions, fostering a robust understanding of securing blockchain systems.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces core fundamentals of blockchain security

Focuses on teaching best practices for blockchain development security

Suitable for both novices and experts in blockchain security

Taught by industry experts with significant experience

Provides hands-on exercises and real-world examples

Covers both technical and non-technical aspects of blockchain security

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cutting-Edge Blockchain Security Mechanisms with these activities:

Review Basic Security Concepts

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Bolster your understanding of essential security principles to lay a solid foundation for the course's advanced cryptographic concepts.

Browse courses on Security Principles

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Revisit introductory materials on network security, cryptography, and security principles.
Review real-world security breaches and their implications.
Summarize key takeaways from your review in a concise document.

Participate in online discussion forums or join study groups

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Engage in discussions and collaborate with peers through online forums or study groups to strengthen your understanding and gain diverse perspectives.

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Identify relevant discussion forums or study groups focused on blockchain security.
Join the forums or groups and actively participate in discussions.
Share your insights, ask questions, and engage with other members.

Blockchain Security Resource Collection

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Build a comprehensive repository of resources, including tools, articles, and documentation, to support your ongoing learning in blockchain security.

Browse courses on Cryptographic Algorithms

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Identify and gather relevant resources from reputable sources, such as security blogs, academic papers, and industry reports.
Organize the resources into meaningful categories or tags for easy retrieval.
Share your collection with fellow learners or contribute it to online communities.

Five other activities

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Follow online tutorials or workshops on smart contract vulnerability assessment

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Gain practical experience by following guided tutorials and workshops on smart contract vulnerability assessment, enhancing your security skills.

Browse courses on Smart Contract Security

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Identify reputable online resources offering tutorials or workshops on smart contract vulnerability assessment.
Select a tutorial or workshop that aligns with your learning goals.
Follow the instructions and complete the exercises provided.

Smart Contract Security Coding Challenges

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Enhance your understanding of smart contract security by working through coding challenges that address common vulnerabilities.

Browse courses on Smart Contract Development

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Find online resources or platforms that provide smart contract security coding challenges.
Select challenges that align with the course material and your skill level.
Implement solutions to the challenges, ensuring adherence to best practices and security guidelines.
Review and analyze your solutions, identifying areas for improvement.

Solve practice problems on cryptography and smart contract security

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Practice solving real-world security problems in cryptography and smart contract development to reinforce understanding.

Browse courses on Cryptography

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Identify and gather practice problems related to cryptography and smart contract security.
Attempt to solve the problems independently.
Review solutions and compare your approach.

Blockchain Security Vulnerability Analysis

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Develop your practical skills by assessing the security vulnerabilities of an existing blockchain or smart contract.

Browse courses on Smart Contract Security

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Identify a suitable blockchain project or smart contract for analysis.
Conduct thorough research on common blockchain vulnerabilities and threats.
Use security analysis tools to scan and assess the target system for vulnerabilities.
Document and prioritize the identified vulnerabilities.
Propose recommendations for mitigating or remediating the vulnerabilities.

Write a blog or article on a blockchain security topic

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Articulate your understanding of a blockchain security topic by creating a blog or article, promoting knowledge sharing and deeper comprehension.

Browse courses on Blockchain Security

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Choose a specific aspect of blockchain security to focus on.
Research and gather information from credible sources.
Organize and structure your writing logically.
Write and revise your content, ensuring clarity and conciseness.

Career center

Learners who complete Cutting-Edge Blockchain Security Mechanisms will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Blockchain Developer

As a Blockchain Developer, you will design, build, and maintain blockchain applications. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to secure these systems through its modules on architectural and cryptographic security measures, smart contract vulnerabilities, and threats like denial-of-service attacks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Developer

Software Architect

As a Software Architect, you will design and develop software systems. This course can help you build a foundation in blockchain security, which is becoming increasingly important as more businesses adopt blockchain technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Security Engineer

As a Security Engineer, you will be responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course can help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to secure blockchain systems, which are a new and emerging technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Information Security Analyst

As an Information Security Analyst, you will be responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risks to an organization's information systems. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to secure blockchain systems, which are a new and emerging technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cryptographer

As a Cryptographer, you will be responsible for developing and implementing cryptographic algorithms and protocols. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to secure blockchain systems, which rely on cryptography for security.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cryptographer

Cybersecurity Analyst

As a Cybersecurity Analyst, you will be responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course can help you build a foundation in blockchain security, which is becoming increasingly important as more businesses adopt blockchain technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Analyst

Blockchain Engineer

As a Blockchain Engineer, you will design, develop, and maintain blockchain applications. This course can help you build a foundation in blockchain security, which is becoming increasingly important as more businesses adopt blockchain technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Blockchain Engineer

Smart Contract Developer

As a Smart Contract Developer, you will develop and implement smart contracts on blockchain platforms. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to secure smart contracts, which are vulnerable to a variety of attacks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Smart Contract Developer

Network Security Engineer

As a Network Security Engineer, you will be responsible for securing computer networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This course can help you build a foundation in blockchain security, which is becoming increasingly important as more businesses adopt blockchain technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Privacy Engineer

As a Privacy Engineer, you will be responsible for protecting the privacy of individuals' personal data. This course can help you build a foundation in blockchain security, which is becoming increasingly important as more businesses adopt blockchain technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Privacy Engineer

Ethical Hacker

As an Ethical Hacker, you will be responsible for finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks in order to improve their security. This course can help you develop the skills necessary to secure blockchain systems, which are a new and emerging technology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethical Hacker

Compliance Officer

As a Compliance Officer, you will be responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with laws and regulations. This course may be useful for Compliance Officers who want to learn more about blockchain technology and its security implications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Officer

Auditor

As an Auditor, you will be responsible for examining and evaluating financial records and other documents to ensure that they are accurate and compliant with regulations. This course may be useful for Auditors who want to learn more about blockchain technology and its security implications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Data Analyst

As a Data Analyst, you will be responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. This course may be useful for Data Analysts who want to learn more about blockchain technology and its potential applications in data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

As a Business Analyst, you will be responsible for analyzing business processes and systems to identify opportunities for improvement. This course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to learn more about blockchain technology and its potential business applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Cutting-Edge Blockchain Security Mechanisms

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