General Information

MIT catalog description

Prereq.: 6.033
G (H)
3-0-9
4 EDP

Design and implementation of secure computer systems. Lectures cover threat models, attacks that compromise security, and techniques for achieving security, based on recent research papers. Topics include operating system (OS) security, capabilities, information flow control, language security, network protocols, hardware security, and security in web applications. Assignments include labs that involve implementing and compromising a secure web server and web application, and a group final project.

Students can use 6.858 to fulfill the engineering concentration requirements for Computer Systems.

Class meetings

Lectures will be held MW 11-12:30 in 1-190.

Who should take 6.858?

6.858 is primarily intended for seniors and M.Eng students who want to learn about how to build secure computer systems in detail. PhD students are also welcome; 6.858 counts as a systems TQE subject.

Communication

We will distribute assignments and announcements on the course web site. We expect students to check the 6.858 home page for both news and assignments at least once a week. If you hear a rumor, check it there.

Grading policy

Grades in 6.858 will be based on the results of two quizzes (one in the middle of the term and one in the next-to-last week of classes, 20% in total), lab exercises (35%), final project and presentation (25%), and class participation and homeworks (together 20%). No quiz during final exam week.

Turn-in policy

You are required to turn in each lab; if you have not turned in all of the labs, you will receive an F. Labs that are turned in but score 0 points will receive a D. You have a total of 72 late hours to use throughout the semester. After you have used up your late hours, each additional day late will incur a full letter grade penalty. Saturday and Sunday both count as days. (Late days are tracked automatically, so you don't need to email before using one.)

Collaboration

You may not collaborate on quizzes. You are welcome to discuss the labs with other students, but you should complete all assignments on your own, and you should carefully acknowledge all contributions of ideas by others, whether from classmates or from sources you have read. Final projects will be in groups, where you should collaborate.

Staff

Lecturers
Name	E-Mail	Office	Telephone
Frans Kaashoek	kaashoek at csail.mit.edu	32-G992	x3-7149
Nickolai Zeldovich	nickolai at csail.mit.edu	32-G994	x3-6005

Teaching assistants Office hours are held weekly in the locations listed below.
Name	E-Mail	Office	Office Hours	Location
Sergio Benitez	sbenitez at mit.edu	32-G978B	R5-7	E17-129
Jonas Helfer	helfer at mit.edu	32-G978A	M2-4	26-322
Jelle van den Hooff	jelle at mit.edu	32-G978B	W4-6	8-119
Patrick Hurst	phurst at mit.edu	N/A	T4-6	26-322

Course mailing list: 6.858-staff@pdos.csail.mit.edu
Use this mailing list to contact all the 6.858 staff.

Questions or comments regarding 6.858? Send e-mail to the course staff at 6.858-staff@pdos.csail.mit.edu.

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