Computer Science 661 - Secure Distributed Systems

This is a class devoted to the study of securing distributed systems, with blockchain-based cryptocurrencies serving as our real platform of interest. We'll start with the fundamentals of Lamport's, Fischer's, and Douceur's results that fence-in all consensus system, and discuss Byzantine fault tolerance. We'll also look at the efficiency of the network architectures for peer-to-peer;distributed system communication and attacks on their security, such as denial of service attacks. And we'll review relevant applied cryptography such as elliptic curves. We'll discuss in detail the mechanisms of Bitcoin and Ethereum and we'll program distributed applications for Ethereum. Other topics include economics and finance. The course is based on a 'flipped classroom.'

Open to Masters and PhD Computer Science students and Electrical & Computer Engineering students. UNIV LEC 01 FOR ELIGIBLE GRADS; SEATS HELD FOR INCOMING STUDENT REGISTRATION. U+ LEC 01 FULLY REMOTE WITH REQUIRED ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS MEETINGS AT THE SCHEDULED TIME; FOR MS-CS STUDENTS AND OTHER GRADUATE STUDENTS (EXCEPT MS-ECE) WITH INSTRUCTOR PERMISSION. PHDS OR ANY STUDENT WITH A TUITION WAIVER CANNOT ENROLL IN A U+ SECTION. THE COURSE IS BASED ON A FLIPPED CLASSROOM. MUCH OF THE COURSE CONTENT IS DELIVERED ONLINE AND STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO VIEW OR READ THESE MATERIALS AHEAD OF CLASS MEETINGS IN PREPARATION FOR DISCUSSION. PHYSICAL ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED FOR IN-PERSON SECTIONS. STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cics.umass.edu/academics/course-overrides