This seminar will explore two topics. The first is the topic of information warfare in its broadest context. That is to say, we will not only examine warfare among nation states based on information technology, but we will also examine corporate information warfare and information warfare as it is manifest in our political and economic processes. The second topic of the course will be information system security. In this context the seminar will endeavor to build on our proximity with CERT and our relations with several members of the CERT staff. The focus of the study here will be on understanding the research on patterns and trends in security currently being studied at CERT.
There are two personal reasons for wanting to undertake the seminar at this point in time. First, I am increasingly convinced that information systems are more and more fragile today than they were in years past. With our increasing dependence upon these systems, it is our professional responsibility to better understand both the intentional and unintentional fragility we build into systems, particularly as it relates to security. Second, I believe that one of the most important aspects of the curriculum in information and computer science that is yet to be developed relates to security. For this reason, I would like to use this seminar to explore two or three courses that might be added to the information science curriculum in this area.
Comments and ideas are most welcome. I would like to see the outline and readings for this seminar defined jointly with the graduate students in the department.