CYBR 365-001/CYBR 571-001/MIS 592-001 Ethical Hacking

Course Information Page - Fall 2026

Required Text

CEH Certified Ethical Hacker, 5th edition
by Matt Walker

 

Course Description

Prerequisite: CYBR/MIS 324 and MIS 352.
This course advances students' knowledge of penetration testing, network vulnerabilities, and hacking. Topics include analyzing advance techniques for circumventing network security hardware and software. Upon completion, students should be able to assemble test kits for multiple operating systems, and scan footprint networks.

Schedule (*all times are ET)

Week of Tue/Thur: Reading Assignments
18/20 August No class Tuesday
Introduction
Get book/labs
25/27 August RBC: CH 1, Getting Started: Essential Knowledge ICQ: In-Class Quiz I [due 27Aug@0830]
TQ: Vocab 1 [due 30Aug@2359]
HO-AL: 1-Introduction to Ethical Hacking [due 30Aug@2359]
HO-EC: 02-Footprinting and Reconnaissance [due 30Aug@2359]
1/3 September RBC: CH 2, Reconnaissance: Information Gathering for the Ethical Hacker ICQ: In-Class Quiz II [due 3Sep@0830]
TQ: Vocab 2 [due 6Sep@2359]
HO-AL: 2-The Technical Foundations of Hacking [due 6Sep@2359]
HO-EC: 03-Scanning Networks [due 6Sep@2359]
8/10 September RBC: CH 3, Scanning and Enumeration
ICQ: In-Class Quiz III [due 10Sep@0830]
TQ: Vocab 3 [due 13Sep@2359]
HO-AL: 3-Footprinting, Reconnaissance, Scanning, and Enumeration [due 13Sep@2359]
HO-EC: 04-Enumeration [due 13Sep@2359]
15/17 September RBC: CH 4, Sniffing and Evasion
17 Sep@0845 Career Dev Brief
ICQ: In-Class Quiz IV [due 17Sep@0830]
TQ: Vocab 4 [due 20Sep@2359]
HO-AL: 4-Enumeration and System Hacking Attack Techniques [due 20Sep@2359]
HO-EC: 08-Sniffing [due 20Sep@2359]
22/24 September RBC: CH 5, Attacking a System ICQ: In-Class Quiz V [due 24Sep@0830]
TQ: Vocab 5 [due 27Sep@2359]
HO-AL: None
HO-EC: 05-Vulnerability Analysis [due 27Sep@2359]
HO-EC: 06-System Hacking [due 27Sep@2359]
29 September/1 October RBC: CH 6, Web-Based Hacking: Servers and Applications ICQ: In-Class Quiz VI [due 1Oct@0830]
TQ: Vocab 6 [due 4Oct@2359]
HO-AL: 7-Web Server hacking, Web Applications, and Database Attacks [due 4Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 13-Hacking Web Servers [due 4Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 14-Hacking Web Applications [due 4Oct@2359]
6/8 October RBC: CH 7, Wireless Network Hacking
No class Thursday (Fall Break)
TQ: Vocab 7 [due 11Oct@2359]
HO-AL: 8-Wireless Technologies, Mobile Security, and Attacks [due 11Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 16-Hacking Wireless Networks [due 11Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 12-Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots [due 11Oct@2359]
13/15 October RBC: CH 8, Mobile Communications and the IoT ICQ: In-Class Quiz VII [due 15Oct@0830]
TQ: Vocab 8 [due 18Oct@2359]
HO-AL: 9-Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots [due 18Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 17-Hacking Mobile Platforms [due 18Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 18-IoT and OT Hacking [due 18Oct@2359]
20/22 October RBC: CH 9, Security in Cloud Computing ICQ: In-Class Quiz VIII [due 22Oct@0830]
TQ: Vocab 9 [due 25Oct@2359]
HO-AL: 11-Cloud Computing, IoT, and Botnets [due 25Oct@2359]
HO-EC: 19-Cloud Computing [due 25Oct@2359]
27/29 October RBC: CH 10, Trojans and Other Attacks ICQ: In-Class Quiz IX [due 29Oct@0830]
TQ: Vocab 10 [due 1Nov@2359]
HO-AL: 6-Sniffers, Session Hijacking, and Denial of Services [due 1Nov@2359]
HO-EC: 07-Malware Threats [due 1Nov@2359]
HO-EC: 10-Denial-of-Service [due 1Nov@2359]
3/5 November RBC: CH 11, Cryptography
No class Thursday (Conf travel)
TQ: Vocab 11 [due 8Nov@2359]
HO-AL: 10-Cryptographic Attacks and Countermeasures [due 8Nov@2359]
HO-EC: 20-Cryptography [due 8Nov@2359]
10/12 November RBC: CH 12, Low Tech: Social Engineering and Physical Security ICQ: In-Class Quiz X [due 12Nov@0830]
TQ: Vocab 12 [due 15Nov@2359]
HO-AL: 5-Social Engineering, Malware Threats, and Vulnerability Analysis [due 15Nov@2359]
HO-EC: 09-Social Engineering [due 15Nov@2359]
17/19 November RBC: CH 13, The Pen Test: Putting It All Together ICQ: In-Class Quiz XI [due 19Nov@0830]
TQ: Vocab 13 [due 22Nov@2359]
HO-AL: None
HO-EC: 11-Session Hijacking [due 22Nov@2359]
HO-EC: 15-SQL Injection [due 22Nov@2359]
24/26 November
Project Presentations
No class Thursday (Thanksgiving)
Project Presentations
1/3 December Project Presentations & Wrap-up No class Thursday (Reading Day)
8/10 December Final Exam 0800-1100, 10 December

RBC = Read Before Class; TQ = Take Quiz; ICQ = In-Class Quiz; HO = Hands-on; AL = Ascend Labs; EC = EC-Council

Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

  1. Assess ethical and legal requirements of security assessment and penetration testing and determine a strategy to comply with these requirements.
  2. Analyze different phases of hacking and recommend the strategy to use ethical hacking for assessing security of various components of information system.
  3. Compare and contrast different hacking techniques and analyze the legal implications of hacking.
  4. Examine different vulnerabilities, threats and attacks to information systems and recommend the countermeasures.
  5. Analyze cryptography algorithms and encryption techniques, and design implementation strategies for securing information.
  6. Compare and contrast various network security assessment and hacking tools.
  7. Assess various network security techniques and tools and implement appropriate level of information security controls based on evidence, information, and research.

Policy Information

Academic Honor Code

As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW, continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.

Please read and be familiar with the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code. I have highlighted some parts that are particularly relevant to courses I teach here.

Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated in this class.

Time Commitment

It is a matter of UNC system policy that you should expect to be committed for an average of 8.5 hours per week (hpw) to this class (or any 3-credit hour class you take at UNCW).

A credit hour is defined as one 50-minute meeting of face-to-face instruction per week for 15 weeks, plus a minimum of 2 hours per week for 15 weeks of out-of-class student work.

You should be mentally prepared to spend ~8.5 hpw on this class.

Additional Grading Guidance

Late Policy

Vocab quizzes are due each week and will not be accepted late except in the case of an unexpected life event (e.g. car accident, illness, family death, etc.).

In-class quizzes can be taken only on the day offerred. If you are absent unexcused you will receive a zero. If you are absent excused you will receive no grade and it will neither help nor hurt your overall course average.

Labs have recommended due dates to allow reasonable pacing; however, all labs will be accepted as long as they are completed by the last day of class.

Extra Credit

There is no specified extra credit in this class. I may, on occasion, subjectively award extra credit for assignment solutions that demonstrate meaningful, functional effort beyond the norm.

Attendance

When UNCW opened in 1947, the College bulletin attendance guidance began, "Regular attendance upon meetings of classes is considered very important and is further considered a student obligation."
Nothing has changed in those regards.
On-time attendance is required at each meeting.

Unexcused tardiness, early departure, or absence will reduce your final grade. Excused tardiness/early departure/absence will not reduce your grade (e.g., illness, family death, etc. - I will be reasonable). Tardy means 3 minutes or more late; early departure means before the end of class. 2 tardies = 1 absence
Students may miss 2 class meetings without penalty. Each additional unexcused absence will result in a 2% reduction of the final average, up to a maximum of 5 unexcused absences (10% reduction); any additional unexcused absences will result in a grade of F.
Students who miss 0 classes will receive a +1% increase in their final average; students who miss 1 class will receive a +0.5% increase. Note: this applies regardless of excused or unexcused absences.

Communication

The best way to contact me is via email. When writing me email, please, indicate your class AND section number. Also, be clear/concise: start with your question and then provide supporting details. You do not need to tell me how hard you have been working or how confused you are. Example
If you post questions in the assignment comment section in Canvas, I will likely not see it - don't do that.

Student Illness

Students are to do a health check each day before coming to campus. Students who experience COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact the Abrons Student Health Center at (910) 962-3280. If a student becomes ill, s/he should let the professor know and must not attend the course in-person. If a student is too ill to attend virtually, they will be given the opportunity to complete the material asynchronously.

Disaster Contingency Plan

In the event that UNCW closes, students will be given an assignment to make up for 1 week of missed class time. This will be emailed to students within two days of the UNCW closing announcement. In the event that the rest of the semester is online, students need to be prepared by having reliable internet access, a webcam, and a microphone.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability and need accommodations, you must be registered with Disability Services (DePaolo Hall, 910.962.7555). Please provide your Accommodations Letter within the first week of class or as soon as possible. You should then meet with your instructor to make mutually agreed upon arrangements based upon the recommendations in the Accommodations Letter. For additional information, please see UNCW Disability.

Title IX

UNCW takes all forms of interpersonal violence very seriously. When students disclose, first- or third-hand, to faculty or staff about sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking, this information must be reported to the administration in order to ensure that students' rights are protected, appropriate resources are offered, and the need for further investigation is explored to maintain campus safety. There are three confidential resources who do not need to report interpersonal violence: UNCW CARE, the Student Health Center, and the Counseling Center. If you want to speak to someone in confidence, these resources are available, including CARE's 24-hour crisis line (910-512-4821). For more information, please visit www.uncw.edu/care

Code of Student Conduct

This course is subject to the Code of Student Life of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (the Code). The full Code is found here Code of Student Life. UNCW practices zero tolerance for violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies, contact UNCW CARE at 910.962.2273 or Campus Police at 910.962.3184. For University or community resources visit Safe Relate Campus Resources.

Religious Observance Policy

In accordance with NC SL 2010-211, students are entitled to two excused absences for religious observances per academic year. These absences must be requested using the form provided on SeaNet, under "Student Services." These requests must be submitted by the student prior to the absence. Once the request is submitted, an email will be sent to all impacted instructors automatically. There is no need to send additional notification to instructors or the Registrar's Office. Any absence for religious purposes will be considered unexcused unless the appropriate form is submitted.

Seahawk Respect Compact

In the pursuit of excellence, UNC Wilmington actively fosters, encourages, and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff and the broader community.

Therefore, we expect members of the campus community to honor these principles as fundamental to our ongoing efforts to increase access to and inclusion in a community that nurtures learning and growth for all.