computer security

[iluvchairs112]

I'm just wondering if anyone here is into computer security?

I'm finding it fairly interesting and I think I might go into it in university but I am wondering if a degree in computer science or software engineering would be good for that? A while ago I was thinking about going into software engineering but I'm not quite sure anymore. So what do you think would be useful for computer security?

[Cervantes]

You'd probably be pretty safe with either degree, but I'm no expert on the matter. If you want to design new algorithms for security, such as cryptology, then you should definitely go into CS. If you're more interested in how to overlay security systems across an entire operating system, then SE might be more appropriate. If you want to develop applications such as firewalls or anti virus programs but not actually get down and dirty on the algorithms for the protection, SE might be more appropriate.

I guess CS would be my guess. You get more math this way, and that's really quite important to security, I think.

[Martin]

Actually, from what I've heard, Combinatorics & Optimization might be the way to go, with maybe a minor in computer science.

[Cervantes]

Good point. Well, if it's either CS or C&O, you could just come to Waterloo for Math in first year and make your decision after that. The only thing is you have to be confident that your grades will be high enough that they will let you switch into what you want. They don't have to be stellar, by any stretch, but they must be decent.