Introduction to Software Side Channels and Mitigations

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Same as the prerequisite course, we do not just enumerate side-channel effects and how to exploit them. We provide you with the experience of learning about side channels, in a group of students, living in a shared appartment. Together with them you will figure out that what software side channels are, why they are relevant for cybersecurity, in particular in our modern digital lifes, where all our secrets are stored on computers that can be subverted using side channels.

In this course, we get one step closer to hugely impactful attacks like Meltdown and Spectre, which internally use side channels. We will learn about different simple software-based side channels and how they can be exploited. We will cover the basics, requiring some programming skills. We again focus on the security or side-channel mindset, as a crucial take-away for you, that you will be able to apply on a day-to-day basis in your studies, your job, and your personal life. You will extend your view on side channels and be able to assess risks in technical contexts in detail. In a set of small exercises, you will demonstrate that you understood the basics, and are able to find and exploit side channels in small software programs.