EDU: Enhancing and Broadening Computer Security Education with Stepwise and Reusable Problem-solving Challenges

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This project explores methods for enhancing computer security education through the use of practical problem-solving challenges. The investigators are building step-wise and parametrized reusable security challenges that mimic real-world scenarios involving computer attacks and defense strategies. To this end, the project borrows ideas and practices from successful experiences in building computer security competitions such as capture-the-flag, and provides instructors with a reusable platform for designing and managing competition-style challenges for the purpose of computer security and information assurance education. The investigators are also developing new educational material related to computer security that can be more easily integrated into relevant non-security computer science courses. The main goal is to broaden computer security education by developing a "cross-cutting" teaching approach, whereby fundamental computer security concepts are taught in most core computer science courses, from lower-level undergraduate courses, to upper-level undergraduate, to core graduate courses. Moreover, this project creates an opportunity to further adapt the newly developed education material to a larger audience, offering introductory information security education to IT professionals and increasing awareness regarding information security problems in general.