HOT!!:: FREE ONLINE CRYPTO CLASS AT STANFORD

So when Ivy League schools give FREE classes in cryptography, I don't waste any time in signing up.  Looks like Stanford University is doing just that.

Here's some info direct from the FAQ section:

When does the class start?
The class will start in January 2012.

What is the format of the class?The class will consist of lecture videos, which are broken into small chunks, usually between eight and twelve minutes each. Some of these may contain integrated quiz questions. There will also be standalone quizzes that are not part of video lectures, and programming assignments. There will be approximately two hours worth of video content per week.

Will the text of the lectures be available?
We hope to transcribe the lectures into text to make them more accessible for those not fluent in English. Stay tuned.

Do I need to watch the lectures live?No. You can watch the lectures at your leisure.

Can online students ask questions and/or contact the professor?Yes, but not directly There is a Q&A forum in which students rank questions and answers, so that the most important questions and the best answers bubble to the top. Teaching staff will monitor these forums, so that important questions not answered by other students can be addressed. 

Will other Stanford resources be available to online students?No.

How much programming background is needed for the course?The course includes programming assignments and some programming background will be helpful. However, we will hand out lots of starter code that will help students complete the assignments. We will also point to online resources that can help students find the necessary background.

What math background is needed for the course?
The course is mostly self contained, however some knowledge of discrete probability will be helpful. Thewikibooks article on discrete probability should give sufficient background.

How much does it cost to take the course?Nothing: it's free! 

Will I get university credit for taking this course?No.

The course is being taught by Professor Dan Boneh who heads the applied cryptography group at the Computer Science department at Stanford University. Professor Boneh's research focuses on applications of cryptography to computer security. His work includes cryptosystems with novel properties, web security, security for mobile devices, digital copyright protection, and cryptanalysis. He is the author of over a hundred publications in the field and a recipient of the Packard Award, the Alfred P. Sloan Award, and the RSA award in mathematics. Last year Dr. Boneh received the Ishii award for industry education innovation. Professor Boneh received his Ph.D from Princeton University and joined Stanford in 1997.

Here's another look at the link for the class:

http://www.crypto-class.org/

CONTEST!!! Decipher this and win....

Okay, so I've decided to do another contest.  Some people may be wondering what coded messages and ciphers have to do with security.  Quite simply, none of your secure electronic communications could get done without them.  Plus, who doesn't enjoy a little mental exercise particularly when there is money involved - a $25.00 Amazon.com gift card.  Come on, folks.  It's the holidays.  If you guess wrong, it costs you nothing.  Win and you can use it towards any purchase at Amazon like that book you've been dying to read on your Kindle.

Enough talk.  Here's the message.  Decode it and email the text to scrivenlking@gmail.com.  If you're the first person to solve it, I'll advertise your name as our only winner thus far and email you the gift card.  Easy peasy.  Here's a hint: It's a simple substitution cipher.

jdc9)c9)4ds)9sz21x)z2xs)z214s94!))ud25vx)-25)es4)4dc9)8ced4)q1x)zq1)stqcv)ts)q4)9z8c6s1vfc1e[etqcv!z2t)wc894@)-25)7cvv)es4)q)}+&)ecw4)zq8x)42)Gtq=21!z2t!))jdq1f9)w28)3vq-c1e!

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO: How to Conduct Effective Bag Searches

I've decided to finally post the video I made on how to properly conduct a bag search.  I wanted to do a video to highlight some areas I feel are commonly neglected during these kinds of searches.  Most seasoned professionals won't neccessarily need to watch this video but I do believe it provides a great overview of some of the basics.  This all came about from a search I was subjected to during a recent visit to an amusement park.

Here are some of the pics I promised during the presentation on which illustrate how much insight a proper light and probe can provide.

View of the "concealed carry" partition...The bag comes with a
"universal" holster.

View of a small exterior zipper.  Using the probe to push down
on the anterior nylon aids in revealing more.

View of what I affectionately called "a big gaping hole".  This
is the largest interior portion of the bag.  I have packed
cameras, wallets, books, diapers, etc. ALL in here before.

Here's another link  to the article that started it all:

http://blog.thesecuritydialogue.org/2011/09/nominee-for-worst-bag-check-is.html