Course content

Functions, protocols and configurations for realizing authentication, key distribution, integrity, confidentiality and anonymity in wireless access networks for mobile users. The course presents security techniques employed in existing systems, such as WPAN, WLAN, UMTS, IMS. Proposed solutions for new network technology, such as various types of ad-hoc networks. Digital forensics in wireless systems.

Learning outcome

A. Knowledge:
1) The course will provide knowledge of information security technology and methods for communication systems that provide services for mobile users by wireless access networks.
2) Knowledge and understanding of security mechanisms and protocols in wireless communication systems, such as the topical technologies of WLAN IEEE 802.11, WAN 802.16, GSM/UMTS/LTE, Ad-hoc and sensor networks.
3) Knowledge about some of the models, design principles, mechanisms and solutions used in wireless network security to obtain authentication and key transport protocols.

B. Skills:
1) Acquire practice and analytical skills in information security assessment of technology and methods for communication systems that provide services for mobile users by wireless access networks.
2) Group collaboration work (ideally three students) that perform a week of lab project problem solving of WLAN security analysis and construction, including keeping a lab journal and writing up a lab report afterwards.
3) Each student selects after interests and motivation, under supervision, a technical topic to study within wireless security that is not part of the lectured syllabus, and writes a short concise technical essay presenting the topic studied.

C. General competence:
1) Training and experience in performing, writing a lab journal and report from lab work.
2) Authoring a short and concise technical essay with LaTeX document preparation tools.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, WLAN laboratory group assignment, individual short technical essay on a chosen title, and optional exercises.
Portfolio assessment is the basis for the grade in the course. The portfolio includes a technical essay which counts 20%, a lab report which counts for 20% and a written final exam which counts 60%. The results for the parts are given in %-scores. The entire portfolio is assigned a letter grade.
The lab is mandatory and the group work must be approved. Both the lab report and the technical essay must be approved in order to access the final exam.
If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral.

Compulsory assignments

• Laboratory
• Technical essay

Recommended previous knowledge

TTM4105 Access and Transport Networks and TTM4135 Information Security, or equivalent.

Course materials

Given at the start of the course. Previously, two textbooks have been used: Forsberg et al., LTE Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Edney, Arbaugh: Real 802.11 Security, Addison-Wesley 2004. In addition there will be lecture notes and selected articles.