17 free online courses on computer security and cybersecurity

If you have a somewhat rusty computer security knowledge, don't worry. I myself, more than 10 years ago I left college, and the truth is that I could use a good update. Whether you are an expert or a novice in this of information security, today's post will surely interest you.

Next, we bring you a list with several MOOC courses (Massive and Open Online Courses) on computer security, taught by some of the most prestigious universities in the world, and completely free!

It is worth mentioning, of course, that, although they are online and free courses, most do not include certificates. However, if we are interested in validating the training (something quite logical if what we want is to improve our curriculum), once the program is finished, we can obtain a certificate issued by the institution that teaches the course, upon payment. The certificates are not very expensive, usually around 40-60 euros and in many cases even financial aid is offered.

17 completely free online courses on computer security and cybersecurity

Most courses are developed through platforms such as Coursera, Udacity and Future Learn, and are in English (with the option of subtitles in some courses). Although there is also a course on cybersecurity that is Spanish and looks very good, in addition to the 6 courses offered by the Polytechnic University of Madrid that are also in perfect Spanish. With that said, let's go a little deeper and see what they consist of.

1. Information security: context and introduction

Brief approach to topics such as cryptography and security management, both in networks and in devices.

Taught by University of London | Approximate duration: 14 hours | See course

2. Cybersecurity: understand attacks to deploy countermeasures

This course in Spanish given by the Rey Juan Carlos University, it addresses issues such as attacks at the network, systems and services level; Malware and Advanced Persistent Threats (APT); cryptography and network-level countermeasures; current challenges and trends for the future.

Taught by the Rey Juan Carlos University | Approximate duration: 6 weeks (about 24 hours) | See course

3. International cyber conflicts

In this course attendees will acquire knowledge for the cyber conflict analysis and management, as well as useful information for the development of policies related to cybercrime.

Taught by The State University of New York | Approximate duration: 9 hours | See course

4. Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies

A course that tries to explain at a technical level how it works and why the Bitcoin.

Taught by Princeton University | Approximate duration: 18 hours (about 4 weeks) | See course

(5-10). Cryptography and Information Security Courses

Crypt4you is the first MOOC in Spanish on information security, active since 2012 from the hand of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. It currently offers these 6 100% free courses in Spanish on cryptography and computer security.

• Computer security and cryptography | See course
• Elliptic Curve Cryptography | See course
• Electronic payment systems | See course
• Computing and quantum cryptography | See course
• Privacy and protection | See course
• The RSA algorithm | See course

11. Cryptography (I)

How crypto works and how some existing applications use it. Real problems are also covered and some tips for using this technique are shown.

Taught by Stanford University | Approximate duration: 29 hours | See course

12. History of the Internet, Technology and Security

This course will open the internet and show you how it was created, who created it, and how it works. Participants will meet those who developed the Internet and Web technologies we use today.

Taught by the University of Michigan | Approximate duration: 12 hours | See course

13. Network Security

This course provides an introduction to network and computer security. Students who successfully complete this class will be able to evaluate jobs in academic and business security, and will have rudimentary skills in security research.

The course begins with a tutorial of the basic elements of cryptography, cryptanalysis and system security, and continues to cover a series of seminal papers and monographs in a wide range of security areas.

Taught by Georgia Tech | Approximate duration: 16 weeks | See course

14. Applied cryptography

Cryptography is present in everyday life, from paying with a credit card to using the phone. Learn all about how to make and solve puzzles in the world of computing.

Taught by Udacity | Approximate duration: 2 months | See course

15. Introduction to cybersecurity

Guided by Cory Doctorow, attendees will learn how to recognize threats that could harm them online and take steps to reduce risks.

The course addresses online security in the context of the larger world, developing familiar concepts such as malware, viruses, Trojans, network security, cryptography, identity theft, and risk management.

Taught by The Open University | Approximate duration: 8 weeks (3 hours per week) | See course

16. Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Businesses: Identifying Threats and Preventing Attacks

In this course, the student will explore some of the Common Cyber ​​Threats Small and Medium Businesses Face, what a cyber attack means and what practical tools and strategies you can implement to prevent them.

Taught by Deakin University | Approximate duration: 2 weeks (3 hours per week) | See course

17. Cybersecurity: security at home, online and in life

This course taught by the University of Newcastle will introduce some of today's key topics in cybersecurity research and how they relate to everyday life. It also shows how the move to online storage of personal data affects privacy, how secure online payments can be made, and how the proliferation of "smart" devices affects security.

Taught by Newcastle University | Approximate duration: 3 weeks (3 hours per week) | See course

As you have seen, the courses are of varied themes, providing material of interest for those who enter the world for the first time, and allowing more experienced users to delve into more advanced subjects. Highly recommended, especially for systems technicians or hobbyists wanting to learn something new in a constantly evolving field such as the field of computer security.

You can find more free online training in this other post:17 free online courses for multimedia creatives and developers.