Course Title: Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking

Course Overview: The Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles, practices, and ethical hacking techniques. This course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect digital assets and networks, as well as perform security assessments to identify vulnerabilities.

Course Duration: 16 weeks

Prerequisites:

• Basic knowledge of computer networks and operating systems
• Familiarity with programming concepts (any language)
• Access to a computer with an internet connection
• Understanding of ethical and legal considerations

Course Objectives: Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand the core concepts of cybersecurity and the threat landscape.
2. Implement security best practices to protect information systems.
3. Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities and threats.
4. Perform ethical hacking and penetration testing on networks and systems.
5. Apply incident response and disaster recovery procedures.
6. Recognize the ethical and legal aspects of cybersecurity and hacking.
7. Be prepared for industry-recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).

Course Outline:

Module 1: Introduction to Cybersecurity

• What is cybersecurity?
• Cybersecurity threats and risks
• Regulatory compliance and standards
• Roles and responsibilities in cybersecurity

Module 2: Security Fundamentals

• Security principles and concepts
• Confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA)
• Security policies and procedures
• Risk management and assessment

Module 3: Network Security

• Network security threats and vulnerabilities
• Network defense strategies
• Firewalls, IDS, and IPS
• Virtual private networks (VPNs)

Module 4: Operating System Security

• Securing operating systems (Windows, Linux)
• User account management and permissions
• Patch management and updates

Module 5: Cryptography and Encryption

• Basics of encryption
• Symmetric and asymmetric encryption
• Digital signatures and certificates
• Public key infrastructure (PKI)

Module 6: Ethical Hacking Fundamentals

• What is ethical hacking?
• Legal and ethical considerations
• Phases of ethical hacking

Module 7: Information Gathering and Footprinting

• Passive and active reconnaissance
• Footprinting techniques
• Open-source intelligence (OSINT)

Module 8: Scanning and Enumeration

• Port scanning and service enumeration
• Vulnerability scanning
• Banner grabbing and enumeration techniques

Module 9: System Hacking

• Password cracking and exploitation
• Privilege escalation
• Post-exploitation and persistence

Module 10: Malware and Virus Analysis

• Types of malware (viruses, Trojans, ransomware)
• Malware analysis and reverse engineering
• Anti-malware tools and techniques

Module 11: Web Application Security

• Common web application vulnerabilities
• Web application scanning and exploitation
• Web security best practices

Module 12: Wireless Network Security

• Wireless network vulnerabilities (WEP, WPA)
• Wireless network hacking techniques
• Securing wireless networks

Module 13: Incident Response and Forensics

• Incident response procedures
• Digital forensics and evidence collection
• Legal and privacy considerations

Module 14: Cloud Security

• Cloud computing security challenges
• Security considerations in cloud environments
• Cloud security best practices

Module 15: Legal and Ethical Aspects

• Cybersecurity laws and regulations
• Ethical hacking code of conduct
• Reporting security vulnerabilities responsibly

Module 16: Final Project and Certification Preparation

• Real-world ethical hacking project
• Preparation for industry certifications
• Course review and reflection

Assessment:

• Quizzes and assignments after each module
• Hands-on ethical hacking projects
• Final ethical hacking project presentation
• Certification exam preparation (e.g., CompTIA Security+ and CEH)

References and Resources:

• Textbooks, online resources, and documentation
• Ethical hacking tools and platforms (e.g., Kali Linux)
• Cybersecurity and ethical hacking communities for support and collaboration

This course outline provides a comprehensive curriculum for a cybersecurity and ethical hacking course, and it can be adapted to meet the specific needs and goals of the educational institution and students. Additionally, it's important to keep the course content updated with the latest developments in the field of cybersecurity and ethical hacking.