Unlocking Information Security II: An Internet Perspective from edX

Information Security is everywhere: as the world becomes more and more digitized, so it becomes more and more hackable. Cyber attacks, data breaches, and even cyber warfare are all very real - so it's infinitely important to understand how hackers think and act, and how you can fight back.

In this course, which is the second part of the Unlocking Information Security program, you will turn your attention to the Internet: you'll start by learning about the inherent vulnerabilities lurking in the multiple layers of the Internet's protocol stack and then meet the first line of internet defenses. Next, you'll take an in-depth look at the modern cryptographic concepts that are at the core of internet security and discover the mathematical miracle that makes them possible.

With all this in mind, you will take a deep survey of the world wide web; understand the various technologies behind websites, how web servers and web browsers interact, how they can be attacked, and how they should be defended. Finally, you will learn about viruses, worms and trojans: what they are, how they spread, hide and attack, and the arms-race between them and the anti-virus industry.

This course was produced at Tel Aviv University by TAU Online - learning innovation center.

What you'll learn

An introduction to the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, including IP Spoofing, TCP Injections, and DDoS, and useful defenses against them like NAT Boxes and Firewalls
An in-depth look at the cryptographic concepts and techniques that make up the security infrastructure of the Internet: Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange, RSA Public-Key Cryptography, Digital Signatures and MAC
A survey of the world wide web's security concerns (SQL Injections, CSRF, and XSS): is the Internet ultimately vulnerable or is there a silver lining?
An introduction to the world of malware: viruses, worms, Trojans and more - computer viruses and how to beat them

What's inside

Learning objectives

An introduction to the typical internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, including ip spoofing, tcp injections, and ddos, and useful defenses against them like nat boxes and firewalls
An in-depth look at the cryptographic concepts and techniques that make up the security infrastructure of the internet: diffie-hellman key exchange, rsa public-key cryptography, digital signatures and mac

A survey of the world wide web's security concerns (sql injections, csrf, and xss): is the internet ultimately vulnerable or is there a silver lining?
An introduction to the world of malware: viruses, worms, trojans and more - computer viruses and how to beat them

An introduction to the typical internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, including ip spoofing, tcp injections, and ddos, and useful defenses against them like nat boxes and firewalls
An in-depth look at the cryptographic concepts and techniques that make up the security infrastructure of the internet: diffie-hellman key exchange, rsa public-key cryptography, digital signatures and mac
A survey of the world wide web's security concerns (sql injections, csrf, and xss): is the internet ultimately vulnerable or is there a silver lining?
An introduction to the world of malware: viruses, worms, trojans and more - computer viruses and how to beat them

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a multifaceted study of internet and cybersecurity, offering foundational knowledge for beginners

Teaches cryptographic concepts and techniques, which are crucial for securing internet communications and data

Examines the vulnerabilities of the internet protocol stack and common defenses like firewalls and NAT boxes

Offers a practical survey of the world wide web, including security concerns like SQL injections, CSRF, and XSS

Provides an in-depth look at malware, including viruses, worms, and Trojans, and explores strategies for protection

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 Unlocking Information Security II: An Internet Perspective with these activities:

Review network basics

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Refresh your understanding of networking concepts, such as IP addressing, TCP/IP, and network security, to prepare for this course.

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Review lecture notes or textbooks on networking basics.
Practice configuring network settings on a local computer or virtual machine.

Cryptographic Concepts Practice Set

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Practice applying cryptographic concepts and techniques to solidify understanding.

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Solve a set of practice problems involving Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange.
Complete a series of exercises on RSA Public-Key Cryptography.
Work through examples of Digital Signatures and MAC.

Build a Basic Firewall

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Develop a hands-on understanding of firewall implementation and network security.

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Configure a software firewall using iptables or a similar tool.
Define rules to allow and deny network traffic.
Test the firewall's effectiveness against simulated attacks.

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Career center

Learners who complete Unlocking Information Security II: An Internet Perspective will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Ethical Hacker

This course may be useful for an Ethical Hacker. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Ethical Hackers are responsible for testing the security of an organization's computer systems and networks. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethical Hacker

Incident Response Manager

This course may be useful for an Incident Response Manager. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Incident Response Managers are responsible for responding to and managing cybersecurity incidents. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Incident Response Manager

Security Architect

This course may be useful for a Security Architect. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Security Architects are responsible for designing and implementing security solutions for organizations. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Network Security Engineer

This course may be useful for a Network Security Engineer. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Network Security Engineers are responsible for securing computer networks. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Information Technology Auditor

This course may be useful for an Information Technology Auditor. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Information Technology Auditors are responsible for auditing an organization's information technology systems and networks. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Auditor

Cloud Security Engineer

This course may be useful for a Cloud Security Engineer. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Cloud Security Engineers are responsible for securing cloud computing environments. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Engineer

Software Engineer

This course may be useful for a Software Engineer. The course takes an in-depth look at the cryptographic concepts and techniques that make up the security infrastructure of the Internet: Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange, RSA Public-Key Cryptography, Digital Signatures and MAC. This could be useful for a Software Engineer, as they are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. A deeper understanding of the principles of cryptography enables a Software Engineer to design more secure and reliable applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

IT Security Manager

This course may be useful for an IT Security Manager. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. IT Security Managers are responsible for overseeing the security of an organization's information technology systems and networks. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Security Manager

Cybersecurity Consultant

This course may be useful for a Cybersecurity Consultant. It covers a variety of topics related to cybersecurity, including the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, cryptographic concepts and techniques, and the world of malware. Cybersecurity Consultants help organizations to improve their cybersecurity posture and reduce their risk of being hacked. They must have a strong understanding of cybersecurity and the latest threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Consultant

Security Engineer

This course may be useful for a Security Engineer. It analyzes the typical Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities, including IP Spoofing, TCP Injections, and DDoS, and useful defenses against them like NAT Boxes and Firewalls. This information is useful because Security Engineers are responsible for a variety of tasks, including securing computer systems, networks, and data. They must be knowledgeable about the latest security threats and trends in order to effectively protect their organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

Systems Administrator

This course may be useful for a Systems Administrator. The course emphasizes the security risks associated with the world wide web (SQL Injections, CSRF, and XSS). This can be especially useful for a Systems Administrator, as they are responsible for maintaining computer systems and networks. A deeper understanding of these security risks enables a Systems Administrator to more effectively protect systems from attack.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

Computer Network Architect

This course may be useful for a Computer Network Architect. It takes an in-depth look at the cryptographic concepts and techniques that make up the security infrastructure of the Internet, including Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange, RSA Public-Key Cryptography, Digital Signatures and MAC. This could be useful for a Computer Network Architect, as they are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. They must have a strong understanding of the protocols and technologies used in networking, as well as the security risks associated with them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Network Architect

Information Security Analyst

This course may be useful for an Information Security Analyst. It covers the world of malware, including viruses, worms, and Trojans. Information Security Analysts are responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from security threats. They must have a strong understanding of the latest security threats and trends in order to effectively protect their organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Systems Engineer

This course may be useful for a Systems Engineer. Knowledge of the Internet protocol stack vulnerabilities would be valuable. Systems Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining computer systems. They must have a strong understanding of the latest technologies and trends in order to effectively design and maintain systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Web Developer

This course could be useful for a Web Developer. The course surveys the world wide web's security concerns (SQL Injections, CSRF, and XSS). This could be useful for a Web Developer, as they are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites. A deeper understanding of how the Internet works enables a Web Developer to create more secure and reliable websites.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer