Throughout the semester we will used Ubuntu Linux to demonstrate and try some security software and attacks. To ensure all students use the same environment, I recommend you use a virtual machine image of Ubuntu that I have created inside VirtualBox. This image, as well as the scripts/instructions I've created, will allow you to easily create multiple virtual machines so you can test security attacks inside a virtual network. The initial setup of this virtual networking takes some effort. I have written instructions that should work on your own computer (whether running Linux, Windows or OSX).
Exercise 1: Setup virtnet on your own computer by following my instructions. If you have problems with the setup, take a screenshot of the messages on the screen and show me.
There are different applications and libraries that implement ciphers. A common open source library is OpenSSL. It implements many cryptographic techniques. Rather than implementing a cipher in their application, a developed can simply use the OpenSSL library.
OpenSSL also has a command line interface. It is often already install in Linux and OSX operating systems. It is installed in the Ubuntu Linux virtual machines in virtnet (see above). I have instructions on using various features of OpenSSL; the best place to start is my Simple Introduction to OpenSSL on the Command Line.
Exercise 2: Use OpenSSL inside a single virtnet Linux node, trying different features, such as: encrypting messages with symmetric key ciphers, generating random numbers, and performing a speed test (openssl speed).