Human Aspects of Cyber Security

The course introduces threats and challenges/concerns arising from the human behaviour and decision making regarding technology use. In lectures we are focusing on raising the ability to assess and cope with cyber scams/threats (eg. social manipulation), on research skills to conduct studies in the field and to create and implement study materials, training programs and tools based on them in order to increase level of cyber hygiene in users and companies.

NB! This course will take place in autumn semester 2024/2025 which starts on 2nd of September and ends 26th of January (you can find that information under Start date section). The real course start and end dates will be announced at the beginning of September at the latest.

After completing this course, the student:

• understands the current state of research in this area;
• can critically evaluate original research articles;
• is able to analyze cyber competences and find gaps and solutions to reduce human-related cyber risks;
• is able to plan cyber attacks which include elements of social engineering and propose defense mechanisms against them,
• is able assess and evaluate it-security interventions with employees;
• is able to understand the behavioral science underpinnings of security-critical decision-making;
• understand how cognitive biases and human failure compromise cyber security performance in practitioners.

Final assessment can consist of one test/assignment or several smaller assignments completed during the whole course. After declaring a course the student can re-sit the exam/assessment once. Assessment can be graded or non-graded. For specific information about the assessment process please get in touch with the contact person of this course. For specific information about grade transfer please contact your home university

Fridays 09:00 - 13:00

• Course will be opened in Moodle where all the materials will be provided https://moodle.taltech.ee/
• The student will gain access to links, slides, and exercises.
• There is no specific textbook. Reading materials will be delivered for each topic.
• Kursus avatakse Moodles, kus on toodud välja kogu kasutatav õppematerjal https://moodle.taltech.ee/
• Kursusel osaleja saab ligipääsu lingikogule, slaididele ja ülesannetele.
• Puudub kindel õpik. Igaks teemaks jagatakse vajalik lugemismaterjal.

lectures, exercises