MIT 6.5950 Secure Hardware Design – An open-source course on hardware attacks

MIT's Secure Hardware Design course (6.5950/6.5951) is an open-source program focused on teaching students about hardware security, including how to attack modern CPUs and design resilient architectures. The course emphasizes hands-on experience, allowing students to engage in real-world hacking of processors while learning about various hardware attacks and defenses. The curriculum is structured around three main pillars: Think, Play, and Do. In the "Think" component, students critically analyze hardware security through lectures covering topics like microarchitectural attacks, side channels, and physical security. The "Play" aspect involves interactive recitations where students participate in Capture-the-Flag (CTF) competitions to apply their knowledge in a collaborative environment. Finally, the "Do" segment consists of labs where students implement attacks on actual hardware, ensuring practical application of theoretical concepts. The course materials are continuously updated to reflect the latest research in hardware security and are available for other educators to use, provided they attribute the source.

- MIT's Secure Hardware Design course teaches hardware security through hands-on experience.

- The curriculum includes lectures, interactive recitations, and practical labs.

- Students learn to implement real attacks on CPUs and design defenses against them.

- The course materials are open-source and can be used by other educators with proper attribution.

- The program emphasizes critical thinking and collaboration among students.