Journal profile · Computer Science, Information Systems
Computers & Security
ISSN 0167-4048 · eISSN 1872-6208 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Bimonthly · Founded 1982
Computers & Security: CAS Zone 2 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 6.7; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,100; review about 162 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy; 418 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Computers & Security is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 2 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Network Security and Intrusion Detection, Advanced Malware Detection Techniques and Information and Cyber Security, together about 39% of its articles. Its main subfields are Artificial Intelligence and Information Systems. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The International Source of Innovation for the Information Security and IT Audit ProfessionalComputers & Security is one of the most respected journals in IT security, being recognized worldwide as THE primary source of reference for IT security research and applications expertise.Computers & Security provides the IT security community with a unique blend of leading edge research and sound practical management advice. It is aimed at the professional involved with computer security, audit, control and data integrity in all sectors - industry, commerce and academia - helping the community build and operate fully secure systems and organisations.With its high-profile editorial board and informative regular features and columns, the journal is essential reading for IT security professionals around the world.Our cutting edge research will help you secure and maintain your systemsWe accept only the highest quality of papers ensuring that you receive the relevant and practical advice you needWe don't only highlight the threats, we give you the solutionsCryptology: The journal's editorial scope has explicitly excluded cryptology since 2006. Therefore, submissions with some aspect of cryptology (including blockchains, watermarking, and steganography) as a principal component will not be considered for review.AI and ML: As of early 2024, we have instituted a moratorium on consideration of submissions that feature AI or ML as significant components. Thus, submissions about applying an AI/ML technique to system security and privacy topics will not be considered. Also, items directed to the security of AI/ML systems themselves (such as LLM and federated learning) are out of scope of the journal and should be submitted to a venue primarily about AI/ML.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Information Systems
Editor-in-chief Steven FurnellPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 4%); most named United States 15, United Kingdom 9, Australia 7, Greece 4, Italy 3 (55 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Network Security and Intrusion DetectionComputer Science15.1%
- Advanced Malware Detection TechniquesComputer Science13.1%
- Information and Cyber SecurityComputer Science10.8%
- Internet Traffic Analysis and Secure E-votingComputer Science5.2%
- Security and Verification in ComputingComputer Science4.2%
- User Authentication and Security SystemsComputer Science4%
- Cryptography and Data SecurityComputer Science3.8%
- Cybercrime and Law Enforcement StudiesComputer Science3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Information Systems | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 6.7LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 6.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 15.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 15.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.6LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.45LetPub ·
- h-index
- 77LetPub ·
- h-index
- 169OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,150OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 9.09OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4.4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 28.82%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 396LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 9,928 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 296 | 138 | 95 |
| 2025 | 418 | 151 | 2,100 |
| 2024 | 500 | 175 | 8,836 |
| 2023 | 493 | 192 | 13,399 |
| 2022 | 369 | 133 | 11,404 |
| 2021 | 339 | 105 | 15,873 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
162 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 56 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 162 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,100 / EUR 2,900 / GBP 2,480 / JPY 384,490 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,310 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 5
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 12,000 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Not considered
- cryptology; AI/ML
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1982
- ISSN
- 0167-4048
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-6208
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Computers & Security
What CAS zone is Computers & Security in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Computers & Security is in Zone 2 of Computer Science, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Computer Science, Information Systems. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Computers & Security?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 6.7; CiteScore 15.4, h-index 169.
How long does peer review take at Computers & Security?
The publisher reports about 162 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Computers & Security?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 5; Manuscript length: ≤ 12,000 words; Reference style: Author–date; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Computers & Security based?
Of the 55 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (15), United Kingdom (9) and Australia (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Computers & Security?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Computers & Security is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Computers & Security open access, and what is the APC?
Computers & Security is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,100.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .