Advanced CyberSecurity

Assignment Specification
Part 1 – system design (50 marks)
Produce a computer programme (in your choice of language) for a prototype
system which illustrates appropriate design of security systems and the
application of programming principles to cybersecurity applications.
Participating in online communities require users to register on the platform to
create a user account. The registration process should be secure to protect
user information. One of the steps often involves using captchas to validate
that the request for registration is made by a human user rather a machine,
e.g., bot.
You are required to produce a computer programme containing the following
features as minimum:
 A user interface to prompt a user to create an account by providing
username and password.
 Algorithmically determine the strength of the chosen password by the
user.
 Provides suitable feedback to user about the password strength. You
should research password strength criteria and use your finding to help
you with this task.
 Implement a captcha function to determine that registration request is
made by a human user. For this task, you should research different
types of captchas and implement one type.
Your prototype and prototype design should illustrate and embed good secure
system design and apply appropriate cybersecurity principles and techniques
showing your understanding and knowledge of secure system design. Where
appropriate, you should make use of robust policies and procedures for
password – for example (but not limited to) frequency of change, strength of
password, preventing repetition of passwords, use of encryption etc.
Part 2 – report (25 mark)
Produce a report of about 750 words justifying your chosen approach to the
implemented password and captcha features. You should support your
chosen approach and decision by your literature research. For example, if you
have chosen a specific type of captcha or password combination, support
your decision for selecting them by using citing literature sources that highlight
their strengths.
Part 3 – system demonstration (25 marks)
Prepare up to 10 minutes of recorded visual presentation with audio showing
all the features and functionalities of your implemented software. Your
presentation should show at least the following aspects of your system:
 Clear view of the user interface.
 All the system functionalities as stated in part one of the assignment.
 Clear view of the source code generating the user interface.

Criteria Fail (0-39) Pass (40-49) Good (50-59) Very Good (60-69) Excellent (70-100)
The full source
code of the
system
(10%)

No zip file is
submitted. Or, a
zip file is
submitted but it is
missing most of
the required and
supplementary
files.

A zip file is
submitted but it is
missing some of
the required and
supplementary
files for the full
operation of the
system.

A zip file is
submitted and it
contains only the
essential system
files but it is missing
extra/supplementar
y files, such as
updated
REAMDE.txt file

A zip file is
submitted and it
contains only the
essential system
files but it is missing
some of
extra/supplementar
y file, such as
updated
REAMDE.txt file

A zip file is submitted
and it contains all the
required and
essential system files
including
extra/supplementary
file, such as updated
REAMDE.txt file

Correct
functionality of
the program.
The original
system
functionality
shouldn’t
change, and
your extended
functionality
should also
work correctly.
(50%)

The system
functionality is
incorrect and
there is very
minimal attempt at
solving the
problem.

Some of the
system
functionalities are
correct and there
is some attempt at
solving the
problem.

Most of the required
system
functionalities are
implemented and
work correctly. The
logic of the
implementation is
confusing.

All of the required
system
functionalities are
implemented and
work correctly but
the logic of the
implementation is
confusing.

All of the required
system functionalities
are implemented and
work correctly.

A Microsoft
word document
containing your
rational of your
chosen
approach for the
system design
(20%)

The document is
unsatisfactorily
presented. It
doesn’t contain
most of the
extended code.
The screenshots
of the extended
source code
doesn’t clearly
show the program
code and there is
lack of
description.

The document is
satisfactorily
presented. It
shows some of
the extended
code. Each
screenshot of the
extended source
code shows the
program code but
there is lack of
description.

The document is
satisfactorily
presented. It shows
most of the
extended source
code clearly but not
logically. Most of
the screenshots
show the extended
source code but
there is lack of
description.

A well-presented
document showing
most of the
extended source
code clearly but not
logically. Each
screenshot clearly
shows the extended
source code and
there is good
description.

A well-presented
document showing all
the extended course
code clearly and they
are presented
logically. Each
screenshot clearly
shows the extended
source code and they
are described well.

Demonstration
(20%)

No coherent
structure and
organisation.
Some irrelevant or
poorly presented
content

Relevant, little
coherent structure
and organisation.
Some and
acceptable
presentation of
content

Relevant, some
coherent structure
and organisation.
Relevant content
but there are major
inconsistencies. Or
sometime poorly
presented content

Relevant, coherent
and logically
structured with no
inconsistency or
poorly presented
content

Excellent and
relevant, content,
coherent and logically
structured. Excellent
use of headings and
titles. no
inconsistency and
clearly presented
content