Master Project Computer Security

Course Objective

By completing this project, a student will:

- have solid scientific knowledge and understanding of computer security with a “systems” emphasis, including knowledge of programming, computer systems, software security, hardware security, and program analysis (K&U)

- have acquired practical skills in relevant areas of computer security at an academic level (K&U)

- be aware of the applications of computer science in general and of computer security in particular, and be capable of applying their knowledge and skills to new and unfamiliar problems (AK&U)

- be capable of performing effectively in professional situations where scientific knowledge and skills in the field of computer security are required (MJ)

- be capable of communicating at a professional level and of giving clear oral and written presentations of their own work or others’ work (CS)

- have developed a broad set of lifelong learning skills in computer security, including being capable of acquiring new knowledge, designing a research plan/project, conducting independent/collaborative research, consulting international professional literature, and critically analyzing/evaluating scientific results (LS)

The acronyms above refer to the Dublin Descriptors covered by each learning objective, specifically: Knowledge and Understanding (K&U), Applied Knowledge and Understanding (AK&U), Making Judgments (MJ), Learning Skills (LS), and Communication Skills (CS).

Course Content

The student is offered a research question that needs to be answered following a systematic approach. This approach includes steps such as exploring relevant literature, and will, in general, consist of setting up and carrying out experiments by means of simulations, emulations, or actual systems software. The results and findings will be described in a thesis conforming to the academic standards in the field. The thesis must contain an appendix documenting any research artifacts produced as part of the implementation and experimental evaluation, as well as appendixes documenting AI usage and ethical considerations (see below). The appendixes should use the provided appendix templates (part of the official Latex thesis template uploaded on the Master Computer Security Canvas page). An oral presentation of the project results concludes the project.

Additional Information Teaching Methods

The Master Project is supervised by a staff member of the Department of Computer Science of the VU.

Method of Assessment

The final grade is determined by the project supervisor and a second reader, based on three components: the quality of the research (3/6), the written thesis (2/6), and an oral presentation (1/6). To pass the course, each component must be passed with a grade >= 5.5 and the academic attitude component must be passed. The final grade is the weighted average of the components’ grades. There is a resit opportunity for an insufficient presentation.

We ensure that each student individually demonstrates their abilities through close supervision of the research and writing, through an individual presentation, and through active plagiarism detection for the thesis.

Entry Requirements

The student must have accumulated a minimum of 84 EC in the study program before starting the Master Project.

Literature

Relevant literature is determined individually in consultation with the project supervisor. Students are expected to consult and critically discuss international scientific literature relevant to the project.

Additional Information Target Audience

Master Computer Security (year 2)

Additional Information

Use of generative AI: Level 3 Use of generative AI is permitted, with explanation and reflection

In this course, generative AI (GenAI), such as ChatGPT or similar tools, may be used as part of the working process. The student must explicitly explain how GenAI was used and critically reflect on the quality, usefulness, and limitations of the output. Assessment also focuses on how GenAI has been used consciously, critically, and responsibly. Incorrect use of GenAI, including failure to comply with the requirements for explanation and reflection, is considered fraud. If established, the submitted work or assessment result will be declared invalid, and the Examination Board may impose further measures.

Students must transparently disclose any use of AI during the submission process by documenting, in Appendix B: AI Usage Considerations Appendix, the specific AI tools or technologies used. For details see the Appendix B: AI Usage Considerations Appendix in the thesis template.

Ethical Considerations:

Students are expected to include a reflective discussion of the ethical considerations related to their research work. Students should critically consider potential ethical risks, societal implications, limitations, and responsibilities associated with their project, including issues such as privacy and data protection, safety, environmental impact, fairness and bias, security, human or animal involvement, dual-use or misuse potential, and broader societal consequences where relevant. For details see the Appendix A: Ethical Considerations Appendix in the thesis template.