As computers have come to take such a dominant place in nearly every facet of our lives, it is not surprising that they can also be used for criminal activities. Everyone knows what havoc a dedicated hacker can wreak on individuals or businesses. Identity theft can ruin, at least temporarily, someone’s life as debts can be run up in the victim’s name. Businesses, too, can be hacked into and vital information stolen.
Recovering stolen data, helping to bring malefactors to justice, and helping to prepare data for legal cases all fall into the realm of the computer forensic specialist. However, as this is a very technical field with which to become familiar, the person who is interested in this line of work should avail themselves of computer forensics programs. The correct program will prepare the student for the rigorous, demanding, but rewarding work ahead.
There are no specific requirements necessary to pursue a computer forensics program. Anyone with the desire to learn how to perform a number of vital functions, many related to law enforcement or security, can avail themselves of training. When deciding whether to undertake this line of education, the individual should look into both online programs or courses taught in a traditional campus setting. Online computer forensics programs offer convenience and often a considerably lower cost than campus programs, and are probably a good idea for those who are already working. Online programs allow the student to fit their education to their life needs, and allow more flexibility.
For those who are able to attend a traditional college for their training in computer forensics, there are a number of universities and colleges that offer degrees in this discipline. While the student’s schedule will be determined by the structure of the campus they attend, it is often faster to get a degree in this way, as there are no distractions. The student will be able to focus completely on the computer forensics programs which they are taking. It should be noted, however, that receiving training at a university will generally be more expensive than an online program, especially if the student lives on campus.
Pursing a reputable computer forensics program will ultimately lead to a degree in this discipline. This will be verification to future employers that the graduate is fully qualified to undertake investigative work in computer forensics. There are several levels of degree possible in computer forensics, and the student can pursue any of these. An associate’s degree, which will generally involve a two year computer forensics program, will open the door to many career opportunities, especially in the area of law enforcement.
Computer forensics programs are also available that will give the graduate a bachelor’s degree, which will increase their credibility and give them even wider job opportunities. A bachelor’s degree will need a four year commitment to the computer forensics program. Both corporations and law enforcement will be eager to look at the credentials of someone with a bachelor’s degree in computer forensics. Those who expend a further two years to obtain a master’s degree will find that not only will their value to employers be greater, but they are often able to open their own consultation firms.
There is no denying that computer forensics programs can prepare an individual for a personally and financially rewarding career. Computers are the lifeline of the modern world, and disruptions to their smooth functioning can be devastating. The recovery of vital information, the discovery of hackers, the expunging of computer viruses, and the preparation of legal evidence for court cases all come under the aegis of the computer forensics specialist. Using one of the many reputable computer forensics programs to prepare for this challenging career can change the life of any individual, and open up a whole new world of opportunities for them.
Looking for professional computer forensics programs?
There are dozens of computer forensics software programs on the market, some free and some expensive, some good and some not so good. It can be hard to weed out the quality programs from the ones that are difficult to use or inconsistent with results. Additionally, many excellent digital forensics programs are sold only to law enforcement or supporting fields. This can be a real problem if you’ll be using your computer forensics skills to assist business owners and individuals recover critical information lost due to corruption, hard drive damage or erasure. Luckily, there are some excellent computer forensics tools available as private business and individual licenses. Here are some popular software programs available to non-law enforcement computer forensics experts that are easy to use and give reliable results.Kroll OnTrack EasyRecovery Professional
This easy-to-use tool offers a variety of features to assist in your data recovery efforts. Comprehensive file repair and disk diagnostics are built in, including a full set of repair options for Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Office files. It supports every popular operating system, including Windows, Linux, Apple Mac, OS/2, UNIX and SGI. The RawRecovery Module supports over 485 file signatures, including AVI, CAB, DB, DWG, EXE, FTS, JPG, LOG, PST and many more. Kroll OnTrack offers phone, chat and email support, so you’ll be able to get someone to help you if you have questions.
DataLifter File Extractor Pro
The DataLifter File Extractor Pro is a step above other data carving utilities. This compact software can be run from a jump drive, making it a good option for onsite services and field work. Source files in excess of 2 GB are handled efficiently, and recovery results are neatly organized for review. You can also create an MD5 hash for the recovered files to reduce duplicate files prior to analysis. It plays well with Encase evidence files, handling both compressed and uncompressed files easily. Logical disk access enables search sector by sector or in unallocated clusters, and you can pause or restart the search whenever needed. The File Signature Builder automation creates a custom list for each system you work on, and you can categorize file signatures according to your own defined categories.
Digital Detective NetAnalysis
Another one of the great computer forensics programs, Digital Detective NetAnalysis, provides powerful tools for extracting Internet-activity data from any system. NetAnalysis supports over 20 Internet browsers, including the common Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Deleted browser history files can be recovered, including URLs, cookies, cache entries, binary dumps, and images. File results can be reviewed online or stored for offline analysis. Email analysis tools for online email sites such as Yahoo and Hotmail can track correspondence, and username and password entries can be reviewed. URLs can be bookmarked by the NetAnalysis system to make them locatable for evidence purposes. Search using predefined keywords based on the type of investigation you are conducting or create your own keywords. The system also has an excellent web page rebuilding tool that can reconstruct pages from the cache with a single click. If you need Internet-activity information for your case, NetAnalysis is the tool for you.
VEDIT Pro64
While not specifically designed as a forensic tool, VEDIT can be counted among the best for its powerful text, data, hex and EBCDIC file editing capability. VEDIT can easily search and edit huge files 100 GB or larger. For forensic work involving large-scale database, mainframe and program files, this tool drastically cuts the time required for analysis. It supports mainframe to PC conversion, including packed binary fields, variable-length records and EBCDIC/ASCII conversion. No matter how large or complex the file is, VEDIT computer forensics programs can handle it.