The module will be delivered using weekly small group tutorials. During these the tutor and students will agree a topic based reading list, together with practical exercises where appropriate. This will ensure that module content is both current and student focused. Students will take the role of active learners rather than content consumers.
Their critical analyses of material read and practical findings will be documented and may contribute towards elements of the agreed assessment.
Additional time is included for ad-hoc practical support.

Support will come from laboratory support and the distribution of the latest events in the world of cyber security. This will generally take the form of demonstrations or discussions around technological vulnerabilities, current vulnerability exploits and security breaches in the media.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Assess computer systems, information systems and networks to identify their vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Evaluate and understand the principles of ethical hacking and appreciate where and in what situations these principles should be applied
3. Critically evaluate the core concepts, knowledge and practice of computer security have developed through research

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Appreciate the legal and ethical issues associated with ethical hacking and be able to apply them appropriately.

Summative assessment will be by a research report (assessing all module learning outcomes) together with an associated practical demonstration. This will be based on a student selected case study. This will involve the application of ethical hacking tools and techniques and an evaluation of the vulnerabilities and the production of countermeasure designs and appropriate current research.

Feedback will be via annotated scripts or by a lab based feedback session.

BSc Computer Science or equivalent with a 2(ii) grade or better

None

Ethical hacking is the process of testing and validating an Information Technology (IT) system to determine its weaknesses and assess its vulnerabilities. Businesses and government organisations hire cybersecurity professional to break past their online security systems so that they can recommend preventative measures.

This module will enable you to develop a deep understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of Ethical Hacking. Carrying out such work requires a special skill set, which crosses, legal issues, psychology, computer networks along with detailed understanding of system vulnerabilities and exploits. Additionally, you will be exposed to a collection of industry standard hacking tools and will learn how to apply these in an ethical manner to determine system vulnerabilities.