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Macquarie University

Adversarial AI: Attacking, Defending & Governing ML Systems

Macquarie University via Coursera

Overview

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As AI becomes central to cybersecurity defence, attackers are increasingly targeting the AI systems themselves. Model poisoning, adversarial inputs, backdoor exploits, and model stealing are active threats — and most security teams are unprepared to detect or defend against them. This course gives you the knowledge and practical strategies to secure ML systems from the inside out. You'll examine how ML systems are manipulated through adversarial inputs, poisoning attacks, and threat models across real-world use cases including malware detection and fraud analytics. You'll then explore advanced attack vectors: model poisoning, information leakage, model stealing, and backdoor exploits, and assess their impact on data privacy, intellectual property, and user safety. From attack to defence, you'll learn to apply secure algorithm design, differential privacy, and guardrail protection — and conduct AI security testing using red, purple, and blue teaming approaches. The course closes with AI governance: responsible AI principles, bias mitigation, transparency, data ethics, and the global regulatory frameworks governing AI in cybersecurity. Designed for security analysts, ML engineers, security architects, and risk and compliance professionals working with AI-powered security systems. Job skills taught: Adversarial AI Defence · AI Security Testing · ML Threat Modelling · Model Robustness · Differential Privacy · Red/Blue/Purple Teaming · AI Governance · Responsible AI · Regulatory Compliance for AI Features Coursera Coach, Dialogues and Role Plays - a smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course.

Syllabus

  • Attacks on Machine Learning and Defences
    • As machine learning integrates into cyber defences, so do methods for breaking it. This module helps you understand how machine learning systems are manipulated and how to defend against it. You will examine adversarial machine learning through examples of threat models, adversarial inputs, and poisoning attacks. Learn how data can compromise models and how attackers exploit vulnerabilities. This module also covers defensive techniques to build resilient models and implement countermeasures. Safeguard your models in malware detection, intrusion systems, or fraud analytics against sophisticated attacks.
  • Adversarial Attacks on ML Models
    • As AI systems deploy, exposure to adversarial threats and misuse increases. This module explores how AI is attacked and exploited, a critical focus for cyber professionals. You will dive into AI-specific attack vectors: model poisoning, information leakage, model stealing, and backdoor exploits. These threats compromise AI performance and pose risks to data privacy, intellectual property, and user safety. Examine harmful AI outputs from biased data or manipulation. Learn how output alignment, ethical censorship, and AI-powered surveillance affect public trust and legal compliance. Analyze case studies to identify AI vulnerabilities and understand societal consequences of insecure deployments. Ensure AI shapes the world securely and responsibly.
  • Defending AI Systems
    • Defending AI systems against emerging threats is critical. This module explores technical controls and testing strategies to secure AI models. You will learn to apply AI-specific defences, from secure algorithm design to privacy-preserving techniques like differential privacy. Examine how to test and validate AI model robustness using red, purple, and blue teaming approaches. Focus on balancing security, utility, and performance to make informed trade-offs. Gain practical skills to implement trusted controls and rigorously test for resilience against real-world threats, whether building or auditing AI systems.
  • Ethical and Governance Considerations for AI Security
    • As AI systems grow, responsible design, deployment, and governance are imperative. This module introduces Responsible AI principles: fairness, bias mitigation, transparency, and ethical accountability. You will explore how AI decisions impact individuals and communities, navigating trade-offs between user privacy, model performance, and transparency. Unpack challenges like data sourcing, labelling, and ethical implications of large-scale models. Learn practical strategies for enhancing trust in AI systems. Dive into global frameworks, policies, and governance models supporting secure, ethical AI adoption. Ensure AI systems are functional, fair, transparent, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
  • Mini Project
    • In this module, you will analyse a simulated adversarial attack on a deployed ML model, identify the attack type, and recommend a defence strategy. The project allows you to build a comprehensive portfolio artefacts demonstrating your end-to-end capabilities.

Taught by

Matt Bushby

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