Hardware Security


Doel vak

This course covers the security of computer hardware (e.g., CPU and the
memory subsystem) with a special focus on cutting-edge hands-on research
in the area.

The aim of the course is familiarizing you with the emerging field of
hardware security through lectures and preparing you to perform
independent research. This is done by reproducing some of the most
high-profile hardware attacks that the VUSec group has recently carried
out. This is the course where you get credit points by building some of
the most advanced exploits on the planet! The luckiest team collects the
infamous Best Demo Award given each year at the end of the course.

By the end of the course, you will know about security problems of
commodity hardware that we use everyday and how we can defend against
them. Furthermore, you will learn the necessary skills for dealing with
problems that surface when performing research work. You will find this
useful during your master thesis project.

Inhoud vak

The course is divided in lectures and practical assignments. In the
first few weeks, you will get familiar with the basics of hardware
security and classical attacks. The first practical assignments are
tailored to familiarize you with security mechanisms and basics of
hardware attacks. After that, we will delve into more advanced hardware
attacks and defenses. You will team up with your fellow students to
reproduce one the few selected VUSec hardware attacks during the rest of
the course. Topics will range from Rowhammer to side channels and will
go deep in the internals of operating systems and hardware components.


Lectures and practical assignments


Weekly examination based on practical assignments and the lectures

Vereiste voorkennis

Knowledge of operating systems, C, computer architecture and a keen
interest on understanding how things work under the hood.





Aanbevolen voorkennis

Skills and knowledge gained during Kernel Programming or Computer and
Network Security will be very helpful for this course.

Algemene informatie

Vakcode XM_40019
Studiepunten 6 EC
Periode P2
Vakniveau 500
Onderwijstaal Engels
Faculteit Faculteit der Bètawetenschappen
Vakcoördinator dr. K. Razavi
Examinator prof. dr. ir. H.J. Bos
Docenten dr. K. Razavi

Praktische informatie

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