Global Cyber Threats

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Who are the hackers we hear so much about? This course will answer that question not just with broad terms like “Russia” and “China” but with more focused and nuanced analysis. We will focus on known hacking groups, their methods, motivations, and their relationship to greater geopolitical developments. The course will focus primarily on state-affiliated threats, though it will touch other realms of the cyber threat ecosystem as well. Students completing this course will have a foundational knowledge of what nations are doing in cyberspace, an important step towards subject matter expertise. For example, we will examine how different Russian hacking groups have different aims and methods, even as they target the same United States organizations. Prior technical knowledge is not a prerequisite, though many important concepts will be introduced during the course. We will examine many case studies of historic and contemporary adversary behavior. Students will gain a strategic perspective by examining reporting that will include tactical, operational, and strategic insights. Many of these examples are available in the open-source literature, but additional context will be provided in class discussion.