Human-Centered Security

Moodle
Key: hcswinter

Professor in Charge: Prof. Dr. Florian Alt
Lecturers: Dr. Viktorija Paneva
Tutorials: Oliver Hein
Hours per week: 2 (Lecture) + 2 (Tutorial)
ECTS credits: 6
Language: English
Module: WP 12 Vertiefende Themen für Master Medieninformatik, Informatik und MCI
Capacity: max. 100

Syllabus
Dates and Locations
Exam
Registration

Syllabus

The Human-Centered Security (HCS) lecture focuses on designing and developing secure, privacy-preserving systems that account for how users interact with technology. Technology alone cannot solve all security challenges. While it is possible to create technically robust security mechanisms, many security issues persist because systems often lack usability. This disconnect leads to users often (intentionally or unintentionally) bypassing or undermining security mechanisms. Therefore, human factors play a central role in IT security, and this course aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to address these issues. The lecture, alongside practical exercises, will provide students with a comprehensive overview of key challenges in the field of human-centered security. Students will examine various security mechanisms, mental models of users, and techniques for threat modelling. Topics such as authentication, password management, and Social Engineering will be explored in depth. The course also addresses emerging user-centred threats posed by new, pervasive technologies, such as Mixed Reality, and Smart Homes, which introduce unique security risks due to their novel interaction patterns. Designed for students interested in both security and usability, this lecture provides insights into the intersection of these fields. By the end of the course, participants will have the theoretical and practical tools to design secure systems that meet the needs of real users while maintaining high security standards.

Dates and Locations

Lecture : Tuesday 14:00-16:00, Edmund-Rumpler-Str. 13, Room : B117

Tutorial :

Tuesday 16:00-18:00, Edmund-Rumpler-Str. 13, Room : B117
Wednesday 14:00-16:00, Edmund-Rumpler-Str. 13, Room : B185

Date	Time	Topic	Room
15.10.2025	14:00-16:00 c.t.	Kick-Off & Introduction	Edmund-Rumpler-Str. 13, Raum : B117

Exam

An exam about the content of the lectures and exercises.

Registration