CSCM818 IT-Security, Forensics & Cryptography

This postgraduate module was delivered in 2025 as a core component of the NCSC-certified MSc Cyber Security programme at Swansea University. The course blends advanced cryptographic theory with hands-on computer forensics methodologies to secure complex data architectures and investigate security breaches.

Course Overview

The module addresses the theoretical underpinnings and practical execution of information security engineering. Based in the state-of-the-art Computational Foundry on the Bay Campus, students explore how mathematical primitives protect digital ecosystems and learn how to extract court-admissible digital evidence when those protections are bypassed.

Key Topics Covered

• Applied Cryptography: Symmetric block ciphers (AES), public-key infrastructure (RSA, Elliptic Curve Cryptography), cryptographic hashing, and key-exchange protocols.
• Digital Forensics Principles: Chain of custody maintenance, volatile memory extraction, disk imaging, and filesystem analysis.
• Network & Host Security: Deep packet inspection, intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, and hardening operating systems against malware vectors.
• Incident Response: Threat hunting, log analysis, and timeline construction following a live security breach simulation.
• Regulatory & Legal Frameworks: Navigating the legalities of digital evidence handling, privacy laws, and international cybercrime standards.

Laboratory & Practical Elements

Utilising specialized hardware within the dedicated Cyber Security Lab, students gained intensive experience using industry-standard forensic tools and building programmatic scripts to decrypt, parse, and analyze suspicious data streams.