Jason Hartley is lecturer in criminology at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. He is a former police officer with 23 years of experience, and has trained personnel for deployment in Timor Leste, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Jason specializes in, and has published on engagement with Muslim communities, Indigenous Polynesian approaches to rehabilitation and reducing recidivism, and Asian Organised Crime. Jason also completed a community internship in Hebron on the West Bank.
ITC510 Cryptography and Secure Communications
This unit covers principles and techniques used in cryptography and secure communication systems. Students will explore symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms, cryptographic protocols, key management, digital signatures, and public-key infrastructures. The unit also examines how cryptographic methods are applied to secure communications over the internet, with a focus on real-world applications. Students will gain hands-on experience in implementing cryptographic solutions to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of information.
RELEVANT COURSES
* Core unit
CREDIT POINTS
10
STUDY MODES
On campus, online, hybrid
PREREQUISITE OR CO-REQUISITE
ITC404 Foundations of Cybersecurity and ITC405 Introduction to Scripting and Linux Security Tools
UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Critically review and interpret cryptographic algorithms for securing communication systems
- Critically analyse symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic techniques in securing communications
- Design secure communication systems to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity
- Implement and critically evaluate cryptographic solutions against potential threats
- Explicate and articulate to diverse audiences the impact of emerging technologies on secure communication systems
CONTENT
- Cryptography and secure communications
- Symmetric algorithms and block codes
- Asymmetric key algorithms and public key infrastructure
- Key Management, Authentication & Authorisation
- Hash functions and digital signatures
- Secure Protocols: SSL/TLS, IPSec, SSH
- Privacy Preserving Cryptography
- Secure communication in wireless networks and VPNs
- Cryptanalysis, Side Channel & Quantum Threats
- Best Practices, Governance & Emerging Tech
ASSESSMENT METHODS
- Analysis Report – 20%
- Group Project and Presentation – 30%
- Implementation Report – 50%
PRESCRIBED READINGS
Check with the lecturer each semester before purchasing any texts












