Objectives and competences
The objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive overview of growing data privacy threats and technologies to preserve it. The class provides an understanding of interdisciplinary aspects of data handling and cyber security solutions. Different aspects in the area of privacy, ranging from technical and juridical to societal and economic, are discussed.
Content (Syllabus outline)
• The importance of privacy in the digital age
• Legal aspects of privacy
• Anonymous networks/communication channels, device fingerprints, digital footprint, etc.
• Information-theoretic privacy preservation techniques, applied security and privacy, Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), privacy metrics and privacy intervention tools
• User-friendly authentication methods, privacy in identity management, anonymous proxies, zero-knowledge proofs and their use
• Censorship-resistant communications and traffic analysis methods and attacks
• Social engineering and other human factors risks, strengthening risk perception
• Privacy in social networks, including protection of shared content, protection of user interactions and tools to help privacy-related decision-making
• Biometric technologies and their impacts, IoT privacy issues, data handling
• Trusted third party anonymisation, data obfuscation.
Learning and teaching methods
• lectures,
• computer exercises,
• individual work.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
On completion of this course the student will be able to
• Explain the importance of information privacy
• Know and can discuss privacy issues and anonymity mechanisms
• Understand the importance of a digital footprint
• Understand technologies used to mitigate exposure to privacy risks
• Understand privacy concerns in relation to technical design choices
• Know regulations addressing privacy
Transferable/Key skills and other attributes:
• Communication skills: oral defence of computer exercises, written expression in written examinations.
• Use of information technology.
• Problem solving: use of privacy-enchancing tehnologies.
Readings
• Marko Hölbl In Lili Nemec Zlatolas, Gesla, overjanje in digitalno podpisovanje : učno gradivo [na spletu]. Maribor : Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko. 2022. Pridobljeno s: https://dk.um.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=slv&id=83411
• Brian W. Kernighan, Understanding the Digital World: What You Need to Know about Computers, the Internet, Privacy, and Security, ? Princeton University Press, 2021
• Eric Faster in Chris Capra, DIGITAL PRIVACY: Internet Security to Stop Big Companies from Tracking and Selling Your Data, 2020
