CSC 5290 - Cyber Security Practice
Every Fall, Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University, 2026
Course Description
This course explores broad security topics in the areas of network and operating systems. It focuses on providing hands-on experience leveraging various security tools, helping students understand real-world security threats. The course covers both offensive and defensive methods in a laboratory environment. Students are expected to complete lab assignments using real-world exploits and defense tools.
Course Objectives
Threat Understanding
Develop a solid understanding of real-world network and OS security threats and attack vectors.
Offensive Methods
Gain hands-on experience with penetration testing techniques and real-world exploits in a lab environment.
Defensive Methods
Apply defense tools and mitigation strategies to protect networked systems from attacks.
Practical Skills
Build proficiency with industry-standard security tools through structured lab assignments.
Topics
Network Security
- Network scanning and enumeration
- Traffic analysis and sniffing
- Intrusion detection systems
- Firewall and ACL design
OS Security
- Linux privilege escalation
- System call auditing
- File system security
- Process isolation
Offensive Techniques
- Vulnerability exploitation
- Password cracking
- Social engineering awareness
- Web application attacks
Defense & Forensics
- Incident response
- Log analysis
- Malware detection basics
- Secure configuration
Policies
Lab Requirement
All lab assignments must be completed using the designated security tools and environments provided in class.Academic Integrity
All forms of academic misbehavior are prohibited. Refer to the WSU Student Code of Conduct.Ethical Use
Security techniques learned in this course must only be applied in authorized lab environments. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.