Types of Computer Forensics Software

Types of Computer Forensics Software

Tools are needed in order to efficiently do a job. This is true for all professions including that of computer forensics professionals. This is why these experts in computer forensics maintain a set of computer forensics software that they use to regularly do their job. These tools enable them to efficiently extract digital data from a host of electronic devices in all kinds of conditions. Here are a few types of those software.

Data Retrieval Software – data retrieval is the essential task of computer forensics professionals. Most computer evidence comes in the form of electronic data. As such a computer forensic professional must be able to extract data from all kinds of digital devices. Data retrieval software can make things easier for them by automating some of the mundane tasks of locating where the data is stored and extracting them. These special software can even extract data from encrypted systems, password protected archives and even from damaged memory storage devices like hard drives and DVD-RWs. Data retrieval software is an important part of a computer forensics professional’s toolkit. These software are not only able to extract data from computers, they can also extract them from mobile phones, PDAs and even digital music players.

Network Investigation Software –  another important aspect of computer forensics is network investigations. More and more data is now stored on networked servers online. More and more crimes are also committed over the network lines. Take for example a murder case. Computer forensics is done on the computer and its corresponding internet activities in order to determine if the victim was stalked by the murderer online. Special software that detect illegal hacking activities, tapping as well as taking over a computer is used by the forensics expert in order to trace the source of these illegal activities. These software programs are power enough that they can trace an illegal intrusion back to the source computer and tap all its components in order to identify the perpetrator. Sometimes they can be able to turn the criminal’s web cam on in order to get a facial identification of the criminal.

Data Reconstruction Software –  technically inclined criminals sometimes destroy their computers to attempt to destroy any compromising evidence that it contains. They usually do this in panic while they are being arrested. Sometimes these hard drives are physically damaged that there’s almost no hope of retrieving data from it. However there are specialized software that forensics experts can use to attempt to reconstruct data from these damaged drives.

There are a lot of other computer forensics software aside from these the three previously mentioned types. These are developed by private companies side by side with law enforcement. Most of these software are so exclusive, you need a special license just to be able to buy and use them.

What Is A Computer Forensics Expert?

What Is A Computer Forensics Expert?

The internet, computer networks, electronic commerce, home computers, portable digital devices and automated systems provide a range of opportunities in order to commit criminal  or unauthorized acts as well as illegal activity. Computers and other digital devices are now being used to commit, enable, and support these illegal activities that victimize citizens, organizations as well as property. This is why computer forensics have become an indispensable tool with regards to evidence gathering not only for computer related crime but also for more traditional crimes like murder, racketeering, drugs and fraud. The person doing this kind of forensic analysis is called a computer forensics expert.

The first thing that an expert does when arriving at a crime scene is to secure and evaluate the scene of the incident. The securing part is usually covered by the policemen at the scene with the expert helping only to secure the location wherein the computer or other digital media is located. It is important that the condition that the electronic devices where found in should not be changed. In other words, devices that are turned on and running should be kept that way and devices that are shut down should not be powered up.

Once this is accomplished, the forensics expert then proceeds to locate and protect the devices that contain volatile data. These kinds of data can be found on pagers, PDAs, mobile phones as well as other similar devices. These devices have to be protected physically as well as electronically. They also have to be properly catalogued and documented in order for them to be used as evidence during legal proceedings. One important thing to consider is the fact that the preservation of computer evidence sometimes takes precedence over other physical evidence. This means that the keyboard, mouse, diskettes, discs and other devices that may have some form of physical evidence like fingerprints can only be processed for them after all electronic evidence is fully recovered. This is because the chemicals used to process fingerprints can damage the electronic equipment.

Forensics experts work closely with other law enforcement personnel from processing a crime scene to preparing evidence and presenting them during legal proceedings. They can either be hired as freelance consultants or be directly employed by the crime laboratory of a law enforcement agency. These experts make very significant contributions to a lot of modern criminal cases thanks to their forensic analyses.

In order to become a computer forensics expert, you need to acquire all the necessary skills as well as become certified by the government. There are a lot of schools that offer specialized training on computer forensics that can teach you everything you need to know in order to be certified.

Getting a Computer Forensics Degree

Getting a Computer Forensics Degree

Computer forensics is a special branch of digital forensic science that focuses on recovering legal evidence from all kinds of digital devices to be used in legal proceedings. Professionals of this field use special tools and methods in order to extract evidence from an assortment of digital and electronic devices. However in order to become a professional computer forensics practitioner, you first need to get certified. These certifications are not just given to anyone. In order to be certified, one has to have all the necessary knowledge as well as pass the required tests. Which is why you first need to get a computer forensics degree.

To gain the needed knowledge to become a computer forensics expert, you can seek training from certain schools. There are a lot of schools that currently offer special training for those that seek to become certified computer forensics professionals. These training covers all aspects from technical skills and knowledge needed, how to secure a crime scene, how to properly process recovered evidence, how to properly document and present evidence during legal proceedings as well as all the laws that pertain to computer forensics.

The technical aspect of computer forensics cover how to locate and extract the data from a variety of electronic devices. Aspiring computer forensic experts are taught where and how to find the data on computers, laptops, mp3 players, phones and a variety of other electronic device. They are trained to determine which data sources contain volatile data and what appropriate steps they need to take in order to properly protect it. They are also trained on how to extract encrypted data, password protected archives and data from damaged hard drives. As long as the data is in electronic or digital form, the computer forensics expert will find a way to extract them and use it for evidence.

The non technical aspect of computer forensics training covers the protocol and implementation of computer forensic analysis methods that are within the grounds of the law. They are taught how to properly secure the digital and electronic devices found within the crime scene. The protocol on how to work with other law enforcement personnel is also part of the training. Ethics as well as the proper processing of evidence is another important aspect of non technical training. This is because processing the evidence has to be done exactly by the book in order to make the evidence acceptable in court.

A computer forensics degree can enable you to pass the certification exam in order to become a certified computer forensics expert. Not only will you be able to acquire all the technical skills to be able to do the job, you will also learn everything you need to do to do it ethically and legally.

Computer Forensics Salary – More than Your Hard Drive Can Handle!

Computer Forensics Salary – More than Your Hard Drive Can Handle!

Today’s world is one where a lot of criminals are steadily becoming more efficient with a computer and making awful use of the resources made available to them, whether it’s extortion, blackmail or just simply theft.  Rightfully so, the field of computer forensics has grown into a lucrative career opportunity with promise of paying you large sums of money.  With the right kind of training under your belt, and with some additional IT knowledge, you can be sure to enjoy life with quite the status in society as well as a huge computer forensics salary!

The salaries for these jobs vary greatly from one another, depending on the organization you intend to apply in.  If you’re interested in working for a public or government office such as law enforcement agencies or military offices, expect that you’ll be receiving a pre-determined rate.  However, there is some opportunity for growth, considering computer crimes are increasing by the day, working in a public sector can prove to be a worthwhile endeavor.  You can expect a starting rate of $50,000, going all the way up $75,000.  The earnings you make depend on greatly on your experience level, your college degrees as well as some additional training you may have acquired prior to applying.

Working in the private sector can be a lot more rewarding, since you have a wider range of options to choose from, most especially when you consider geographical location.  You can earn a lot of money in some places like Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and other highly populated metropolitan cities in the world, even London if you’re either a resident in the UK or are planning to travel to a whole new place for some bit of adventure.  Even if you have somewhat limited experience and never received any formal training for the job, you can still get good compensation with a pay rate of at least $50,000 annually.  You should consider applying for smaller firms though, since they can pay a lot more than larger corporations, despite the fact that the market is fast becoming competitive and will most likely remain that way for a very long time.  If you apply for a higher ranking position, such as a team supervisor or manager, be sure to keep your mouths closed; expect to earn around $150,000 a year.  With that amount, you could already invest in a nice house with a fancy car, upon installment basis of course.

Working in such a field, you will bear witness to the demand of such experts and professionals that its only fair you become one yourself.  Eventually you’ll get a really huge computer forensics salary and you won’t have to worry about paying the bills anymore; heck, you can even hire someone to pay the bills for you at this point!

What’s The Buzz About Computer Forensics?

What’s The Buzz About Computer Forensics?

In case you haven’t heard, Computer forensics is a recently growing profession among IT specialists that aims to serve private and public agencies.  IT specialists are named as such due to not only their expertise in computer software, but even hardware issues as well.  The forensics aspect of it comes into play when dealing with both ethical and criminal concerns, which would include theft, fraud and misuse of intellectual property.  You have to admit, with the rapid innovations and advancements in technology today, you’d have to start being fearful and concerned about the possibility of a computer crime occurring with you as the victim.

This field of specialty mainly follows the traditional rules and principles pertaining to scientific investigation.  Everything involved in the process requires a systematic approach, with every detail kept well recorded and documented, and ensured that they are within the prohibitions of the law.  When it comes to the methodology of things, it all starts out with the identification of several sources as far as digital evidence is concerned.  Then, it is followed by the intention to preserve that evidence from being wiped out, altered or corrupted.  You then have to make sure every piece of evidence is thoroughly analyzed and studied, and finally you can present the evidence in an appropriate manner which comes in handy to the situation at hand.

Managing the computer system and making sure that data it contains is kept safe and secure while continuing the protection of any sensitive information or evidence makes an IT specialist a good forensic specialist.  Anyone in this field of expertise knows that it has to explore both the computer itself, and the server connections or networks it has any relevance with.  It allows an analyst to meticulously study and discover any hidden data, and making sure all sensitive information is well-encrypted by way of a password that’s really hard to decipher, ensuring the company it aims to serve that all data is secured on a well-protected computer system.  If any files are deleted, then forensics can easily recover those oh-so important documents which may contain relevant information to the situation.  When you look at it in a deeper level, a lot of times IT forensics involve recovering files that have intentionally been deleted from the network, and even from mobile devices.  Any good specialist in this field can recover information on every text message or phone call that has been made, all for the safety and security of the public trust.

Computer forensics has come a long way, and it is a specialty that is here to stay for quite a long time.  With a steady growth, you no longer have to worry about your computer and all your information being stolen from right under your nose.    

Computer Forensics Certification

Computer Forensics Certification

In order to become a professional computer forensics expert you need to first get a computer forensics certification. This is because the law requires that one must be a certified and recognized expert in order to have their forensic findings accepted during legal proceedings. In order to pass the certification requirements, you have to make sure that you have all the necessary knowledge and skills. These skills and knowledge can be acquired through training.

You can get training from schools who offer special courses that cover all aspects of a computer forensic expert. The curriculum is a very well rounded one that covers not only all the technical aspects of computer forensics, but also the non technical side as well. This is because the job not all about tinkering with various electronic and digital devices, it is also about working with other law enforcement personnel and properly processing evidence in order to be viable for use in legal proceedings.

The technical aspect of training focuses on how to locate, identify and extract data from a variety of digital devices and sources. The aspiring computer forensic expert is taught a variety of methods and skills that he could use to extract data from all forms of electronic sources. They can be able to extract data for evidence even from encrypted sources, supposedly deleted files and even on intentionally damaged hard drives. These technical skills are balanced with training on the proper protocol of working with other law enforcement officers in securing and processing a crime scene, properly processing evidence, the ethical aspect of forensics, as well as all the laws that pertain to the job of a computer forensics expert. Processing the evidences should be done exactly by the book as the courts are very strict regarding this particular protocol. Even the smallest deviation from proper protocol can compromise the viability of evidence to be accepted at court.

Once completing your degree, you can get certification from a variety of international certifying bodies. You can become one of the GCFA certified individuals certified by the Global Information Assurance Certification organization. GCFA means GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst. This is one of the most coveted certifications in the computer forensics field as there are only currently 2100 GCFA individuals in the world. There are also other certifying organizations. In order to get the right one, you should first research on which certifications are accepted and accredited by your government.

Not all computer forensics certification are equal. It is very important to only get the ones that are certified by the justice department of the government you plan to work in. No matter how prestigious a certifying body may be, if they are not accredited by the government, your certification from that body may not be accepted.

Take Up a Computer Forensics Course and Prevent Cyber Crimes!

Take Up a Computer Forensics Course and Prevent Cyber Crimes!

A lot of criminals and terrorists nowadays have discovered the power of technology as a means of extortion and blackmail.  They’ve become quite the resourceful bunch, gaining access to a lot of business and residential networks and retrieving important and private information, causing the loss of billions of dollars.  In this case, crime fighters and law enforcement agencies have looked to certain professionals with an expertise in this field to track down these hackers and cyber thieves, using valuable methods of investigation and scientific research to capture criminals and prevent any possibilities of future crimes.  If the idea of being a tech-savvy genius using electronic gadgets and software to track down crooks on the Web appeals to you, then you might want to take up a computer forensics course.

The FBI and a lot more criminal agencies are in need of people skilled with the necessary knowledge and capabilities learned from in-depth forensic training.  Several agents who have received their share of computer skills from previous experience can further take classes focusing on the criminal element existing online like hackers hell bent on looking meticulously for hidden information which they can use to their advantage against large scale companies in an effort to blackmail the top dogs in the industry.  Forensic training courses allow you, the learner, to understand how to make computer theft as evidence.

You can acquire for yourself a certificate or degree in forensics training, making you a potential employee for organizations looking for the best field investigators.  After taking several courses on the said field of expertise, you will have equipped yourself with education needed to recover lost, deleted or encrypted files of utmost value.  These documents may have an impact on filing criminal charges against those people accused of stealing important information thus taking them to trial.

There are few courses offered in some colleges which you may not find in others, but nonetheless provide you with the same rewarding experience – earning yourself a degree in forensics training.  It will take up quite an amount of your time, but after graduation you will be in demand with the largest companies of highest reputation.  It doesn’t matter how much experience a crook or thief has in his specialization; there’s always bound to be a trail left open for forensics specialists to follow.  As you take up a computer forensics course you will gain yourself the opportunity to utilize the latest in computer tools courtesy of updated and innovative technology, developed specifically for the field of criminal science.  The knowledge you acquire will serve as the most powerful weapon for the FBI, the local police or any law enforcement agency to use against criminal threats lurking about in the online community.