openHPI, the online learning platform of the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), will kick off its 2021 annual program on January 13 with a series of three free online courses on cybersecurity. Participants who successfully complete an exam at the end of the series can look forward to receiving a qualified certificate from the Potsdam-based scientific institution in March. Such a certificate is usually only awarded after successful completion of a six-week online course.
The three short free courses are each two weeks long and are led by HPI Director Prof. Christoph Meinel. The topics of the English-language "Massive Open Online Courses" (MOOC) are Confidential Communication in the Internet,Digital Identities and Cyberthreats: Malware. In these courses, participants will learn what risks the Internet poses and what security precautions should be taken against them.
Three courses on security starting on January 13
Starting on January 13, the first course will begin with the topic "Confidential Communication in the Internet." "Participants will learn, for example, whether and to what extent their connection to online banking is secure and whether the content of an e-mail is trustworthy," Meinel said. To this end, he will introduce the basics of cryptography, familiarize participants with different types of encryption and highlight security objectives. Insight into various models and standards used in practice will also be provided.
The second course, starting January 27, is all about digital identities. Meinel will present what digital identities are, what types exist, and how they can be verified—but also attacked. "In this context, participants will learn, among other things, how to protect themselves against identity theft and the importance of strong passwords," the course instructor said.
Course three in the series, starting February 10, focuses on "Cyberthreats: Malware" According to computer science professor Christoph Meinel: "The Internet is increasingly becoming a place for criminal activity. We therefore show which malware and methods the perpetrators use to carry out the most frequent attacks." Of course, protective defense measures will also be covered, for example against e-mail campaigns with malicious attachments that smuggle in the dangerous Trojan malware "Emotet" when opened.
Considered one of the biggest malware threats in the world, it is currently causing huge damage to the networks of companies, institutions and private individuals.
In addition to cyber security, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and digital health are central topics offered in the program of free openHPI online courses in 2021, open to all interested parties. The current status of the program planning can be found here: https://open.hpi.de/courses.
