Economics of Network Security and Privacy

Network security and privacy depends not only on technological, but also economic, behavioral, and legal factors. This course will draw upon analytical and empirical studies from economics, computer science, and public policy to shed light on the role played by incentives and rationality on the adoption and effectiveness of security mechanisms, and on the design of technical, market-based, and regulatory solutions to different security threats. Topics include: economics of spam, phishing, and other security exploits; economics of privacy; incentives, rationality, and security decision making; market insurance for security and privacy; and design principles for network and system security.