This course will objectively examine two major, modern concerns: spam and other forms of unsolicited bulk electronic communication, and spyware. Relevant legal and ethical issues will be covered, along with tie-ins to other fields like business and economics. Spamming and spyware techniques will be studied, as will current and upcoming countermeasures. Some related computer and network security problems will also be examined.
Course assignments will involve implementing spamming and spyware techniques, and their countermeasures, under controlled conditions. STRICT assignment protocols will be in effect; failure to adhere to these protocols will result in an "F" grade in the course.
You will be required to sign a form stating that you have read and understood the assignment protocols, and that you understand that misuse of the information in this course can result in civil and criminal penalties under the laws of Canada and of other countries.
The process for entry into the course has been set in consultation with the department head.
(Graduate students interested in CPSC 628 should contact me directly.)
Due to limited lab resources, there will be a limited number of people admitted to this course. The requirements are as follows:
CPSC 441 or experience with network programming is recommended.
Deadline for essay submission: as soon as possible. The admission process is being adjusted this year so we are able to assess applications as they come in, right up to the start of classes. Send your essays to aycock@ucalgary.ca in ASCII, PostScript, or PDF format. (Please note that Microsoft Word files will not be accepted!)