The world of cyber security is witnessing a huge demand for skilled computer hacking forensic investigators (CHFI). With the citizens of the internet coming up with new ways every day to use the digital world for the purposes of hoodwinking strangers and performing crimes while sitting safely behind their computers, another army has risen on the other side that has been entrusted with the task of keeping virtual crimes in check. Starting salaries for the job begin anywhere from $40,923 to $110,877 for educated professionals.

Duties of a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

A CHFI is responsible for obtaining information from remote servers, computers, flash drives, and other forms of data storage devices. A forensic analyst works with both law enforcement agencies as well as private organizations in hunting down criminal evidence hidden in the virtual world and tracing the evidence back to its owner in the real world.

In order to press criminal charges, the analyst will also, at times, have to personally testify in court to confirm the veracity of the evidence. All areas of cybercrime, from financial fraud, destruction of evidence, infringement of intellectual property, to corporate theft come under the surveillance of a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator.

Skills Needed to become a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

The work of a computer hacking forensic investigator asks for highly skilled professionals with an excellent and intimate knowledge of cyber security. Candidates must also possess excellent auditing and reporting skills. They must possess the know-how to immediately detect a security breach and take steps to recover. A great deal of patience is required in order to sift through the mountain of information on the web to find evidence of a cybercrime.

Types of Software Used to teach Computer Hacking Forensic Investigators

Since the work of forensic analysts is done mostly online, they must possess sound knowledge of the software needed to detect and act against cybercrime. A number of programs are available which are used by the analysts in their line of work. These include analysis tools that examine stored data and spot any suspicious activities that might raise a red flag. Other tools help the analyst run data recorded in different formats on the same platform, thus saving valuable time. Cookie files of suspicious browsers can also be examined by the analyst using such programs.

Certifications for a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

A job with the kind of high pay and specialized skill set offered by a computer hacking investigator needs proper certification. The CHFI certificate is used to confirm the candidate’s skills in terms of cybersecurity and detection of an intruder's presence, as well as tracking the criminal back to his home computer, and gathering evidence to charge him with the crime. The target audience for the certificate includes:

• Those involved in the field of defense and security.
• Those familiar with the virtual world and online security issues.
• Professionals from the world of banking and insurance.
• Professionals with some experience in law and legal aid.
• Government officials and IT persons with experience in dealing with cybercrimes.
• Law enforcement personnel

Topics Covered in the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator Exam

The CHFI certification test is extensive and covers a great deal of information. Here are some of the items you will need to know in order to obtain a passing score.

1. The processes related to cybercrime investigations such as search and seizure protocols.
2. Types of cybercrimes and rules of obtaining evidence.
3. Duties of someone who first visits the scene of the crime, and rules of conducting preliminary interviews and assessing crime scene photos.
4. Tools of the trade for forensic analysis, and expertise with the software used.
5. Recovering data that has been deleted or wiped off the hard drive for various computer platforms such as Windows and Linux.
6. Password encryption and code cracking skills.
7. Familiarity with log analysis tools and time clock synchronization.
8. Providing testimony in court and familiarity with legal proceedings.
9. Knowledge of the latest forms of malwares and web attacks.

Does the exciting field of computer forensic investigation seem right for you? If you would like to know more about this vital field, contact Infotec today about their Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification courses.

For more information about Infotec or any of our programs click here: http://www.infotectraining.com/ or https://ops.infotecpro.com/course_schedule/course_schedule.cfm.