Explore UCD

UCD Home >

COMP41960

Academic Year 2026/2027

Advanced Information Security (COMP41960)

Subject:
Computer Science
College:
Science
School:
Computer Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Félix Balado Pumarino
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

COMP41960 (Advanced Information Security) is a continuation of COMP30940 (Information Security), covering more advanced topics in the field of information security. The goal is to delve deeper into techniques and algorithms studied in COMP30940 and to introduce further topics in information security.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, the student should have acquired an understanding of the mathematical underpinnings of relevant information security algorithms and techniques.

Indicative Module Content:

- Fundamentals of cryptography. Mathematical definitions of secrecy.
- Fundamentals of number theory.
- RSA cryptography and factoring of large numbers.
- Computation of discrete logarithms. key exchange methods, cryptosystems and digital signature algorithms based on the discrete logarithm problem.
- Elliptic-curve cryptosystems.
- Digital data hiding. Forensics and counterforensics.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Lectures

20
Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; reflective learning; problem-based learning.

Strictly no AI is allowed for the completion/submission of assignments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

The student must be familiar with the fundamentals of probability theory.

Learning Recommendations:

It is recommended, but not mandatory, that the student has taken COMP30960 (Information Theory).


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Required:
COMP30940 - Information Security


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignments Week 7 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
40
 No
Exam (In-person): Final exam with cheat sheet allowed (one single page, A4 size, handwritten on one or both sides) End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback provided through the VLE.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 10:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.