Cyber Security
Learn how cyber attacks work and how to defend systems, networks, and data against them.
Course overview
Every business, school, and government office now runs on computers and the internet — and every one of them is a target. Cyber security is the skill of keeping those systems, networks, and the data inside them safe, and it's one of the fastest-growing career fields in India and worldwide.
This course starts with the core ideas — confidentiality, integrity, and availability — and the common threats: malware, phishing, password attacks, and social engineering. You'll then learn how networks work and how they're protected, the basics of cryptography, web application security, and how ethical hackers test systems the legal way.
By the end, you'll be able to explain how common attacks work, secure your own devices and accounts properly, read a basic security report, and understand the path into roles like SOC analyst, ethical hacker, or security engineer.
Learning objectives
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Explain the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability) and why each part matters
- Identify common threats: malware, ransomware, phishing, and social engineering
- Describe how networks, ports, and protocols work and how firewalls protect them
- Explain encryption, hashing, and digital certificates at a working level
- Recognise common web vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting
- Apply strong authentication: password managers, two-factor authentication, and least privilege
- Understand the phases of ethical hacking and use basic tools in a safe lab
- Know the basics of incident response and India's IT Act and data protection rules
Complete syllabus
0 / 10 modules complete
Tick off each module as you finish it — your progress is saved on this device.
1. Introduction to Cyber Security
What cyber security is, the CIA triad, types of attackers, and the career paths in the field.
2. Threats and Attacks
Malware, viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, phishing, and social engineering — how each one works and how to spot it.
3. Networking Fundamentals for Security
IP addresses, ports, protocols (TCP/UDP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS), and how data moves across a network.
4. Network Security: Firewalls, VPNs, and IDS
How firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems protect a network, and how Wi-Fi gets secured.
5. Cryptography Basics
Symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and how HTTPS certificates keep websites safe.
6. Authentication and Access Control
Passwords, password managers, two-factor authentication, and the principle of least privilege.
7. Web Application Security
The OWASP Top 10, with SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and broken authentication explained through examples.
8. Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Basics
The phases of a penetration test, and a first look at Kali Linux, Nmap, and Wireshark in a safe practice lab.
9. Incident Response, Cyber Law, and Compliance
What to do when an attack happens, plus India's IT Act 2000, the DPDP Act 2023, and how to report cyber crime.
10. Practical Projects and Final Assessment
Apply everything in hands-on lab projects, then take the final quiz.
Required skills & prerequisites
- Basic computer skills — using a browser, files, and folders
- No prior security or programming experience required
- A laptop or desktop for the lab exercises
- Our Computer Fundamentals course is a helpful starting point but not required
Tools & technologies
Practical projects
Phishing email analysis
Examine sample phishing emails and list every warning sign — sender address, links, urgency, and attachments.
Secure your own accounts
Set up a password manager and two-factor authentication on your email and social accounts, and review their privacy settings.
Network scan in a lab
Use Nmap inside your own virtual lab to find open ports and services, and write up what each one means.
Capstone: security audit report
Audit a sample small-office setup, rank the risks you find, and recommend a fix for each one.
Instructor
AI Tutor Spark
Course design & AI tutoring
This course was built by the team at AI Tutor Spark, behind its step-by-step tutoring approach. Every module is paired with an AI tutor you can question directly — ask it to explain an attack again, or walk you through a lab step by step.
Frequently asked questions
No. The course explains every idea in plain language. Some programming helps later in a security career, but it isn't needed here.
Yes, when you test only systems you own or have written permission to test. All lab work in this course runs on your own virtual machines.
It's a first step towards roles such as SOC analyst, security analyst, ethical hacker, and network security engineer, and towards certifications like CompTIA Security+ and CEH.
Yes — every module links to the AI Tutor Spark AI tutor chat, pre-set to Computer Science, so you can ask follow-up questions any time.
Final quiz
Score 70% or higher to pass. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like.
1. In the CIA triad, the 'I' stands for:
2. Malware that locks your files and demands payment to unlock them is called:
3. Which of these makes an account much harder to break into, even if the password leaks?
4. HTTPS protects a website's traffic mainly by:
5. Typing ' OR '1'='1 into a login box to bypass it is an example of:
6. Ethical hacking is legal only when:
Ready to start Cyber Security?
Free to start. Enroll, then jump straight into module one.