ECE 458Computer Security
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Introduction to computer security. Models of security. Elementary cryptography. Software security, vulnerabilities, threats, defenses, and secure-software development processes. Threats to networks and defenses. Security issues at the application layer. Secure design principles, techniques, and security evaluation. Privacy, ethics, and legal issues.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in H-Software Engineering
- Enrolled in a BASc program
Antirequisites
- Not completed any of the following:
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Resources
Around the web
Found by uwloo’s link finder, which checks that each page names ECE 458.
- Hash Calculator Online Other · pelock.com · from UWaterloo Links (SE) Remove
- SageMath - Open-Source Mathematical Software System Other · sagemath.org · from UWaterloo Links (SE) Remove
Reviewed on UW Flow
73% liked it60% easy86% useful
From 45 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Extremely surface-level, feels like a corporate on-boarding module
Aug 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
A lot of conceptual topics, assignment have very little coding/hacking. overall it is a good course.
Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
A lot of content to cover for the final exam.
Aug 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Guang Gong has to be the worst prof I've had in my 4 years in ECE. Super unclear lectures, equally unclear slides and ambiguous assignment questions. The topics are very difficult to google in depth so that isn't even a real alternative to listening to her lectures. The content itself is very useful if you can make it through the lectures
Jun 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Fun course; learned about different encryption schemes and the math behind them. Our prof spent a large chunk of the course on a sample application field: Blockchain.
Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
27 posts and comments in 25 threads mention ECE 458, December 2014 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
Cyber Security in Waterloo? 1 point, 8 comments
“I am in high school currently and was looking through the subjects at Waterloo, and as it turns out there is no Cyber Security program?! Any advice on what and how should i do?”
u/leegamer42: “There is ECE 458 which is for computer security and also a few courses about cryptography”
Winter 2023
CE 4A TEs 8 points, 30 comments
u/OkCelery1514: “… Embedded Software ECE 457A, Co-op & Adaptive Algorithms ECE 457C, Reinforcement Learning ECE 458, Computer Security ECE 481, Digital Control Systems ECE 493, Special Topics: IOT Signal Processing I took ECE 358, ECE 356, & ECE 351 in 3B and performed at the average in all these …”
u/nuavre: “… ECE 458 lectures were a bit boring but the 2020 video lectures were available for those who didnt want to attend class. …”
Spring 2022
ECE 458 - Computer Security Lecture Videos 3 points, 2 comments
u/OptimusB3: “Does anyone have the lecture videos from ECE 458 - Computer Security that they could share? Doesn't matter which term they're from, thanks!”
Looking for study buddies 3 points, 2 comments
u/Eceretard2827: “Anyone taking ECE 458, ECE 457C or STAT 340 and wants to study together?”
Spring 2020
Anyone taking ECE 458? 0 points, 3 comments
u/ElectroMagnetron: “If so, how do you rate the course so far? &x200B; P.S.: I have just joined the course Today and don't yet have access to it on Learn, so if one of you could send me the link to the corresponding Learn page it would be very much appreciated (since the URL link unlocks its Learn …”
Winter 2020
When you get your CS 458 exploit to work 28 points, 3 comments
u/one_hooman: “Or ECE 458”
Technical Electives help!!! (CS 444, CO 487, ECE (423, 429, 454, 455, 458 and 459)) 6 points, 6 comments
u/computerdl: “… ECE 459, ECE 454, ECE 455 Also, I'd try to avoid taking ECE 458 if you can take CS 458 instead. From what I've heard from my friends taking it, ECE 458 is a pretty bs course, especially compared to CS 458 where the assignments are a lot more interesting. …”
Spring 2019
Can more new grads post their undergrad stats please? 26 points, 64 comments
“They're fun to read.”
u/thatsthatnewye-: “… Systems): 49 \[Supplemental Exam Taken, Requirement: Satisfied\] Favorite major course: ECE 458 (Computer Security): 89 Least favorite major course: ECE 205 (Advanced Calculus 1 for Electrical and Computer Engineers): 81 Favorite elective: ECON 206 (Money and Banking 1): 87 …”
Winter 2019
ECE 458: Carlos Moreno? 3 points, 1 comment
u/ece2020_lawyer: “Any 4B ECEs want to shed some light on carlos moreno teaching 458?”
Fall 2018
Help with choosing some 4th year ECE coursea 5 points, 3 comments
u/als26: “… I took ECE458 last term and found it interesting. …”
Spring 2018
What are we supposed to study for tmr's ECE458: Comp. Security exam? 0 points, 4 comments
u/ECE2019: “So confused...”
4th year Tron TEs 3 points, 1 comment
“Looking at the information on Waterloos website there are groupings of TEs that are approved and so I'm getting a little confused. Do our TEs have to be approved as a grouping by the department? …”
u/ece_te: “… There's probably other software courses useful for backend like ECE 454 or ECE 458, but I didn't take those so I can't comment on their usefulness if you want to get into backend development. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
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