CS805 - Advanced Topics in Information Security

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this class is to provide an in depth look at a variety of advanced topics in information security informed by students own interests. Students will also be briefly introduced to a much wider variety of advanced topics informed by the interests of their peers. This will be achieved by direct engagement with three original research papers selected by each student and the related literature and by engaging with the presentations of the other students on their chosen papers. Papers are selected from a curated list of papers across a wide range of topics such as Usable security, Cloud security, and Cybercrime. Students will also improve their academic writing and presentation skills through the reports and presentations. 

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of this class students should have a deep understanding of the state of the art in three different topic areas within information security based on the current research literature. 
• At the end of this class students should be able to read, understand, apply, analyse, and evaluate top academic papers in computer security. 
• At the end of this class students should be able to clearly and concisely communicate advanced topics in information security to their peers and colleagues through engagement with the original literature via both reports and presentations. 
• At the end of this class students should be able to create new topics for discussion and research questions by analysing gaps and potential improvements in the current research literature. 
• At the end of this class students should be able to place advanced topics in information security in their historical and current contexts and critique them effectively. 

Syllabus

Topics drawn from: Access control, Banking security, Bots, Cloud security, Cryptography, Cybercrime, Database security, Hardware security, IoT security, Malware, Mobile security, Network security, OS security, Privacy, Security measurement, Software security, Usable security, Vulnerabilities, Web security 

How to read a paper. How to write a good report. How to present a paper. Reference management. How to discuss papers with peers. 

Recommended Reading

This list is indicative only – the class lecturer may recommend alternative reading material. Please do not purchase any of the reading material listed below until you have confirmed with the class lecturer that it will be used for this class.

Anderson, R. J. (2020). Security Engineering, Wiley (third edition)

Last updated: 2026-09-08 16:32:45