Cybercrime and Computer Forensics Careers

Cybercrime/ Computer Forensics Career Overview

Computer Forensics and Cybercrime is a somewhat new, but quickly growing, career field. Over the last decade, computer crimes have increased rapidly, and companies have lost billions of dollars as the result of them.

Most students pursuing a career in this area complete a computer forensics degree or a related degree like criminal justice or engineering with computer forensics training tacked on. Knowledge and skills in a broad range of computer storage devices, operating systems, programming languages and software applications is necessary, as is knowledge of and skill in the following topics: file formats, networking, routing, communication protocols and security, cryptology and various computer forensics tools.

Real-world knowledge of the computer forensics career niche in which the student is to specialize will likely open more doors too. Specializations require special knowledge; for example, students wanting to specialize in helping banks secure their computer networks will need to have knowledge of the banking business in order to use their skills to the utmost.

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Cybercrime/Computer Forensics Training & Education

Increasingly, more and more colleges, universities and technical schools offer not only forensic science but also computer forensics training curriculum. These Forensics programs lead to computer forensics degrees, related degrees with computer, forensics training options, and computer forensics certificates. Courses are offered online, in the classroom or both.

Among computer forensics certifications, the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) is the most recognized, according to most Web resources. A typical computer forensics degree is a mixture of computing and criminal justice courses. Students learn about the latest computer forensics techniques, but will also study subjects such as criminal law and procedure, business, statistics, security systems, intrusion detection, crime investigation and other more general computing skills such as data communications, networking, and principles of the Internet.

Professional certificates are a common method of earning education in computer forensics. The curriculum in a computer forensics certificate program is created to expand on this existing knowledge base, and to provide the student with the additional education required in this competitive field.

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Cybercrime/Computer Forensics Career & Salary

Computer forensics experts use investigative and analytical techniques to detect and track down all kinds of criminal activity that takes place on computers as well as on the Internet. Examples of this include crimes against both individuals and companies, such as identify theft, "phishing" (tricking users into revealing their personal information and financial details for the purposes of fraud), virus-generation, financial embezzlement, child pornography and theft of intellectual property.

Computer Forensics specialists are trained with a wide range of cutting-edge techniques, and these cybercrime specialists thoroughly examine any system that has been used for, or has been the target of, criminal activity. They can retrieve supposedly deleted data, recover encrypted and damaged digital information, and unearth "hidden" files. Their goal is to produce potential legal evidence that is admissible in a court of law. Salaries for Computer Forensics professionals are high and can range anywhere from $85,000 to $120,000 per year.

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Career Fields/Specializations

Computer Forensics Analyst Career

Computer forensics is a new and fast growing form of investigative technique in which a forensic specialist gathers data that has been electronically stored or encrypted on digital media. The data retrieved often is used as evidence in a court case or as information to help law enforcement further an investigation.

Both local and federal law enforcement agencies use computer forensics to gather evidence and to obtain more information about a suspect or known criminal. Large companies may hire a computer forensics professional to monitor employees' computer activities. Computer forensics professionals are referred to by many titles, including computer forensics investigators, digital media analysts, and digital forensics detectives.

Cybercrime Security Engineer Career

Computer-related crime has dramatically increased, and this has required both corporate security personnel and law enforcement agents to understand how to legally obtain electronic evidence stored in computers.

Vulnerability Security Research Engineers study electronic records such as computer network logs, e-mails, word processing files, and “.jpg” picture files to find evidence of criminal activity, and they can use the information that they find in a court of law.

Examples of some of the many crimes these professionals investigate include crimes against both individuals and companies, such as identify theft, "phishing" (tricking users into revealing their personal information and financial details for the purposes of fraud), virus-generation, financial embezzlement, child pornography and theft of intellectual property.

Cybercrime/Digital Forensics Consultant Career

Computer Forensics and Cybercrime is a somewhat new, but quickly growing, career field. Over the last decade, computer crimes have increased rapidly, and companies have lost billions of dollars as the result of them. Digital Forensics Consultants complete computer forensics degree or a related degree like criminal justice or engineering with computer forensics training added on.

These professionals possess a broad range of skills in areas like computer storage devices, operating systems, programming languages and software applications is necessary, as does knowledge and skill in the following topics: file formats, networking, routing, communication protocols and security, cryptology and various computer forensics tools.

Digital Forensics consultants help both individuals and large companies understand how their computers and systems are vulnerable, and they can inform their clients of what steps to take to make their systems more secure.

Cybercrime Police Officer Career

Cybercrime Police Officers use investigative techniques to identify a wide variety of criminal activity that takes place on computers and on the Internet. This includes crimes against both individuals and large companies, such as identify theft, "phishing" (tricking users into revealing their private personal and financial information), virus-creation, financial embezzlement, child pornography and intellectual property theft.

Cybercrime police officers thoroughly examine any system that has been used for, or has been the target for criminal activity. They can retrieve data which appears to have been erased or lost, recover encrypted and damaged digital information, and unearth "hidden" files. The goal of cybercrime police officers is to produce potential legal evidence that is admissible in a court of law – and just like regular police officers, they can help criminals go to jail.

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