Human-Centered Security and Privacy: A Psychological and Usable Approach

Catalog description

This course explores the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and human factors, emphasizing the psychological underpinnings that influence security behaviors and decisions. Throughout the semester, students will delve into the principles of human-centered design in security systems, examining how usability and human error play critical roles in the effectiveness of these systems. Key topics include psychological foundations of security decisions, usability in security systems, identification and authentication through behavioral biometrics, and strategies against social engineering. The course also covers the design of privacy-sensitive systems, security for mobile and IoT devices, and accessibility considerations in security practices. Through lectures, case studies, and hands-on projects, students will learn to design security solutions that are not only technically robust but also psychologically sound and user-friendly. The culmination of the course will be student presentations on innovative projects that integrate course concepts with current research trends in human-centered security and privacy. This course is ideal for students interested in cybersecurity, privacy policy, human factors, and system design.