VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Formal Methods for Information Security
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:55:03
Abstract
The course focuses on formal methods for the modeling and analysis of security protocols for critical systems, ranging from authentication protocols for network security to electronic voting protocols and online banking. In addition, we will also introduce the notions of non-interference and runtime monitoring.
Objective
The students will learn the key ideas and theoretical foundations of formal modeling and analysis of security protocols. The students will complement their theoretical knowledge by solving practical exercises, completing a small project, and using state-of-the-art tools. The students also learn the fundamentals of non-interference and runtime monitoring.
Content
The course treats formal methods mainly for the modeling and analysis of security protocols. Cryptographic protocols (such as SSL/TLS, SSH, Kerberos, SAML single-sign on, and IPSec) form the basis for secure communication and business processes. Numerous attacks on published protocols show that the design of cryptographic protocols is extremely error-prone. A rigorous analysis of these protocols is therefore indispensable, and manual analysis is insufficient. The lectures cover the theoretical basis for the (tool-supported) formal modeling and analysis of such protocols. Specifically, we discuss their operational semantics, the formalization of security properties, and techniques and algorithms for their verification. The second part of this course will cover a selection of advanced topics in security protocols such as abstraction techniques for efficient verification, secure communication with humans, the link between symbolic protocol models and cryptographic models as well as RFID protocols (a staple of the Internet of Things) and electronic voting protocols, including the relevant privacy properties. Moreover, we will give an introduction to two additional topics: non-interference as a general notion of secure systems, both from a semantic and a programming language perspective (type system), and runtime verification/monitoring to detect violations of security policies expressed as trace properties.
Resources
Learning Materials (Links)
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC , WBZ
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 25 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Formal Methods for Information Security |
|
2 h weekly |
| exercise | Formal Methods for Information Security |
|
1 h weekly |
| independent project | Formal Methods for Information Security | No time listed | 1 h weekly |