What Does it Take to Become a Computer Forensics Expert?
With the growth of the Internet, computer forensics is hot. Learn all about it from an experienced analyst.
Computer Forensics Analyst Profile
Vernon D. is a detective who specializes in computer forensics for a city police department. He writes search warrants to seize data retention devices such as cell phones, computers and cameras. He then processes them to find information related to criminal activity. We interviewed this experienced computer forensics analyst to see what he had to say about his job. Keep reading to see what Detective D. has to say about his forensics training and career.
How did you begin your career?
I really got interested in computer forensics when I learned that just because you delete something it doesn’t mean it is actually deleted.
In my police department, a few detectives were performing digital forensics and I was fascinated by the idea. I really felt strongly that this was going to be extremely valuable, so I took it upon myself to find computer forensics courses and pay for them myself.
When an opening in Detectives became available, I applied and met the qualifications because of the computer training I had done.
What's a typical day like?
I arrive in the morning and spend approximately 30 minutes scanning local online auctions, message boards and personal ads, which gives me insight into what is going on in the community. This activity may seem wasteful, but it has yielded the recovery of stolen property and even prevented a homicide!
Next, we have a meeting known as “muster” where we learn about the criminal issues of the day. Following this 15-minute meeting, I delve into any priority recovery. Obviously any violent crime against a person is worked on first, followed by financial crimes. I may write a search warrant, physically arrest a person, interview suspects or witnesses, or prepare for and testify in court.
Does your day end when you leave work?
Once I go home for the evening, I remain on-call for any field questions or emails, and I might have to go back to work for an immediate recovery, such as a homicide, if necessary.
What's your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is finding evidence that can confirm or deny that a crime was committed. If it is confirmed, the bad guy goes to jail; if it’s denied, an innocent person is cleared.
What are the biggest challenges in your career?
The biggest challenge is trying to keep up with technology. I try to attend computer classes; although, working for a public entity, training funds aren’t always available. Then there is the career criminal. The average citizen thinks that we deal with many people who have committed their first crime. The truth is that most of the people we deal with are career criminals. They commit multiple crimes and each time they go to court they learn what their mistakes were and how to avoid them the next time.
If you needed help or additional training, where would you go?
Computer forensic detectives are a very cohesive group and offer a wonderful networking system. If I don’t know the answer to a problem, I submit an email or a blog post to the group and they exchange an experience they had on a similar case. There are also federal courses at times. Some of the best computer training I’ve had has been through Microsoft.
What would you tell someone wanting to get into the job?
Learn to be an investigator and keep an open mind. There are two sides to every story, and people aren’t guilty without evidence. One of my instructors once said, “I can train anyone to do computer forensics, but I can’t teach you to be an investigator.” This is very true. You must have the thought process to do good investigative work or you won’t be a good computer forensics analyst.
Any other advice?
I think the best computer forensics analysts are those who have had vast experience in life and had worked multiple jobs before becoming a police officer to understand how the real world functions. Overall, I think that this is a great job. It’s a thrill anytime I recover “deleted” information.
Did You Know?
- Identity theft affects between 700,000 and 10 million people each year.
- Consumer losses are estimated at between $745 million and $5 billion a year.
- Law enforcement agents try to stay ahead of the technology curve to combat this ever-increasing crime.
Legal and Criminal Justice Specialties At a Glance
Learn about the careers below to see which one suits you best.
- Paralegal
- Legal Secretary
- Law Office Manager
- Mediator
- Court Reporter
- Legal Nurse
- Police Officer
- Federal Law Enforcement
- Detective
- Criminologist
- Forensics
- Corrections Officer
- Correctional Administration
- Probation Officer
- Security Guard
Professional Profiles
- Estate Planning Paralegal
- Employment Paralegal
- Insurance Paralegal
- Subpoena Paralegal
- Law Office Manager
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- FBI Agent
- Forensic Scientist
- Professor Interview
- Online-Teacher Interview
- Computer Forensics Analyst
- Private Investigator
- Corrections Officer
- Security Guard
- History of Women Police Officers