SaTC: EDU: Game-Based Cyber Security Education on Anonymous Communication

匿名网络，允许用户保持匿名的网络，正变得越来越流行。据悉，第二代匿名网络“Tor”的固定用户约为120万名。尽管研究工作在匿名通信方面取得了重要成果，并且匿名网络被互联网用户广泛采用，但匿名通信的教育非常有限。该项目将开发和实施一门课程，通过基于游戏的学习来教授学生匿名网络的基础知识。完成课程的学生将对匿名通信有广泛的了解，并将能够在进入劳动力市场时应用这些知识来对抗一系列网络安全攻击。鉴于计算和通信设置的日益普及以及匿名网络的日益普及，保护通信隐私，各种互联网应用程序（如VoIP电话）的隐私以及网络物理系统（CPS）中的隐私具有重要的社会意义。公司、政府和安全机构需要了解现有匿名通信网络的能力。通过该项目开发的课程将以信息论为基础，通过理解和分析匿名网络的质量、匿名网络的可用性和不同匿名化方法所需的网络资源之间的复杂关系，将提供坚实的科学基础。学生的作业和项目将提供匿名交流的广泛实践经验。该项目将通过以下方式加强网络安全教育：(1)课程开发；(2)利用GENI网络开发易于复制的项目；(3)利用游戏学习；(4)为学生提供匿名网络研究的机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Anonymity networks, networks that allow users to remain anonymous, are becoming increasingly popular. It has been reported that Tor, a second the second generation anonymity network, has about 1.2 million regular users. Although research efforts have generated important results regarding anonymous communication, and that anonymity networks are widely adopted by Internet users, the education on anonymous communication is very limited. This project will develop and implement a curriculum that will teach students the basics of anonymity networks using game-based learning. Students completing the curriculum, will have an extensive knowledge of anonymous communication, and will be able to apply this knowledge to combat a range of cybersecurity attacks when they enter the workforce. Given the increasingly pervasive nature of computing and communication settings and the increasing popularity of anonymity networks, protecting communication privacy, privacy of various Internet applications such as VoIP telephony, and privacy in cyber-physical systems (CPS) is of great societal importance. Corporations, governments, and security agencies need to understand the capacity of existing anonymous communication networks.The curriculum that will be developed through this project will be based on information theory and will provide a solid scientific foundation by understanding and analyzing the complex relationship among quality of anonymity networks, usability of anonymity networks, and the amount of network resources needed for different anonymizing approaches. Student assignment and projects will be developed to provide extensive hands-on experience with anonymous communication. This project will enhance cybersecurity education through: (1) curriculum development; (2) developing projects using GENI networks for easy replication; (3) utilizing game-based learning; and (4) providing students with the opportunity to do research on anonymous networks.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.