A Sneak Peek into the EC-Council CHFI Certification Salary

Due to the increasing technological sophistication of cyber criminals and their more frequent distribution of malicious code to computers around the globe, the online world has become a perilous environment. Companies worldwide hire cyber crime experts who can think creatively to prevent network intrusions, identity theft, data theft, and other related crimes. Among the most highly sought-after certifications for cyber crime specialists in today's world is the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator - CHFI certification.

Obtaining the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification enables professionals to acquire expertise and understanding in particular security areas of computer forensics, such as Password Cracking Concepts, log capturing tools, wireless attacks, network traffic, Access Data FTK, and numerous other related topics.

Why Is EC-Council CHFI in Such High Demand?

The CHFI certification is granted by EC-Council, also recognized as the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants. It's a comprehensive and thorough certification program that equips experts with the skills to identify and respond to hacker attacks using a variety of evidence-gathering techniques, reporting the crime, performing audits, and implementing necessary measures to prevent future attacks.

After obtaining the EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator certification, professionals acquire additional qualifications as they are capable of fulfilling the diverse standards of CNSS 4011-4016 Federal Security Certification Training. Consequently, companies are willing to provide attractive remuneration packages to qualified candidates.

CHFI Certification Salary

Professionals with EC-Council CHFI certification can expect to earn an annual salary between $85,000 and $120,000 on average.

Individuals with over five years of experience in managing challenging projects and working in the same industry can anticipate receiving higher salary packages. The remuneration not only depends on their experience but also on the type of employer and their specific skills or expertise.

Companies are looking for individuals who hold a CHFI certification to manage diverse areas of cybersecurity, which include conducting investigations on cybercrime, assessing digital evidence, securing and analyzing electronic crime scenes, retrieving erased files, utilizing techniques such as Steganalysis, managing logs, and investigating email-related crimes.

Positions Available for EC-Council CHFI Certified Professionals

Starting roles for individuals with CHFI certification consist of positions such as information security analyst and forensic computer analyst, both with an average minimum salary of $53,717 and $37,340, respectively.

Intermediate and advanced level job positions consist of Security Engineer, Information Security Engineer, and IT Director.

What Distinguishes CHFI From Other Cybersecurity Certifications

EC-Council CHFI certification primarily focuses on analytical methods, forensic tools, and different procedures utilized in detecting, safeguarding, preserving, and analyzing computer forensic evidence. The fundamental objective is to equip certified professionals with the ability to implement various computer investigation and analysis techniques to identify potential legal evidence.

The CHFI certification program has received accreditation from the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Additionally, the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) recognizes the certification as a requirement for professional competency.

As the internet remains an integral part of society and cybercrime continues to increase, CHFI certification provides numerous opportunities for professionals. With cybersecurity becoming a growing concern for organizations worldwide, individuals with Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification can anticipate a future of career growth and advancement.

Related Read: CHFI Certification Value: Why You Need the Certification?

Who Can Benefit From Acquiring CHFI Certification?

The group of professionals who should pursue CHFI certification includes:

IT managers

Law enforcement personnel

e-Business Security professionals

Legal professionals

Systems administrators

Insurance, Banking, and other professionals

Government agencies

Defense and Military personnel

Looking for CHFI Certification?

To earn CHFI certification, passing the CHFI exam is a requirement, which assesses knowledge in areas such as gathering, analyzing, and presenting digital evidence; computer and network forensics; investigating cybercrime; and understanding legal aspects related to forensics.

Prior to attempting the CHFI exam, you shoud meet CHFI certification requirements. It is advisable to have a minimum of two years of experience in information security or a related field. Additionally, familiarity with digital forensics tools and techniques is also suggested.

To get ready for the CHFI exam, you can enroll in a CHFI training course, which can be done either in person or online. EC-Council provides authorized CHFI training courses, along with several other resources like study guides and practice exams, to aid in exam preparation.

After successfully passing the CHFI exam, you will obtain the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification that remains valid for three years. To sustain your certification, you need to either earn continuing education credits or retake the CHFI exam before the expiration date.

Join the ranks of Computer Hacking Forensic Investigators – start your journey now!

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Everything You Need to Know About Cloud Forensics

Introduction

Cloud computing has gone from cutting-edge technology to a best practice for businesses of all sizes and industries. According to Flexera’s State of the Cloud report, 94% of companies now leverage cloud computing.

With the cloud in such widespread usage, it’s no surprise that cloud forensics is growing in popularity. One of the most important cloud security best practices have cloud forensic investigators ready after a cybersecurity incident.

Read More: 312-50: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

So what is cloud forensics, exactly? Cloud forensics involves applying digital forensics and crime investigation techniques to cloud computing environments. This article will discuss everything you need to know about cloud forensics, including cloud forensic techniques, challenges, and how to become a cloud forensic expert.

What Is Cloud Forensics?

If you’re reading this, you’re likely already familiar with cloud computing: a technology that delivers various on-demand computing services to users over the Internet. These services include applications, databases, servers, networking, and more—all available on a rental or “pay as you go” basis.

Cloud forensics refers to the use of forensic techniques to investigate cloud environments. When unlawful or criminal behavior has occurred using the cloud as a medium, cloud forensics experts use their skills and knowledge to detect the individuals or groups responsible. Cloud forensics encompasses users of the cloud, both victims and perpetrators. For example, a company using cloud servers might be the victim of a data breach or denial of the service incident. Criminals themselves might also use the cloud to launch an attack.

As with other subfields of forensics, cloud forensic investigators must follow strict regulations to ensure their work is admissible in a court of law. This may involve obtaining court orders to search a cloud server, ensuring evidence has not been tampered with, and other necessary precautions.

Cloud forensics jobs are usually listed under titles such as “forensic computer analyst,” “IT security analyst,” and “cyber investigator.” According to PayScale, the median U.S. salary for these jobs ranges from roughly $60,000 to $100,000. These individuals may be employed by governments, law enforcement agencies, and large companies such as banks and healthcare organizations that are common cybercrime targets. They may work in-house or provide their services as external contractors.

There’s no universally agreed upon background necessary for cloud analytics jobs, and each organization will have its own criteria. Most employers look for candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree, although not necessarily in computer science or information technology. Going through cloud forensics training (such as a certification program) is usually essential, but some people can bypass this requirement with enough experience.

How Is Digital Forensics Different from Cloud Forensics?

Digital forensics is a branch of forensics that works with electronic devices and data to detect crimes, examine the paths of criminals, and analyze and preserve evidence for the use of law enforcement and prosecutors.

The domain of digital forensics encompasses a wide range of components in the IT environment: hard drives and other storage media; individual files; Internet and other networks; emails; mobile devices; databases; operating systems; computer memory; and more.

Some examples of popular digital forensics tools are:

◉ The Sleuth Kit (TSK) extracts information from hard disks and other storage

◉ Autopsy, a tool for examining hard disks that provides data on the operating system, owner, users, applications, Internet history, deleted files, etc.

◉ Volatility, an open-source framework for analyzing computer memory

Once these tools have identified potential evidence, digital forensic experts can use a write blocker to securely copy the data to another location, recover hidden or deleted files, decrypt encrypted files, and more.

Cloud forensics can be considered a subset of digital forensics with a particular focus on cloud computing — and, thus, a subset of the broader sphere of forensic science. Many cloud forensic techniques and tools are therefore common in digital forensics. Like digital forensics, cloud forensic experts must work with diverse computing assets: servers, networks, applications, databases and storage, and more.

However, several factors make cloud forensics distinct from its parent field of digital forensics. Perhaps the biggest distinction is that cloud forensic investigators often lack physical access to the investigated systems and environments. This fact significantly affects how cloud forensic investigations are carried out, as we’ll see in the next section.

Challenges of Cloud Forensics

As you can imagine, several cloud forensics challenges are unique to this field. The challenges of cloud forensics include both legal and technical difficulties. The potential issues with cloud forensic analysis include:

◉ Jurisdiction complications: Cloud services are often hosted in different states or countries from the user’s location. Users can sometimes — but not always — choose this location. Google, for example, has cloud servers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This can create complications when determining which jurisdiction has authority over the crime.

◉ Instability: In traditional digital forensics investigations, the IT environment is often “frozen” to prevent interruptions or further issues while investigators complete their work. However, this is usually impossible with public cloud providers, which may serve thousands or millions of customers. Instead, the environment remains live and changeable (and therefore, potentially unstable.

◉ Physical access: In some cases, physically inspecting a cloud server can help with forensics. However, this is a challenge with large cloud providers, which enact strict security regulations to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the premises. In addition, as mentioned above, there’s no guarantee that the cloud server will be physically located close to the investigator.

◉ Decentralization: Cloud providers often store files across several machines or data centers to improve data availability and reliability. This decentralization and fragmentation make it more challenging to identify the problem and perform forensics.

◉ Unavailable or deleted data: Cloud providers may differ in terms of the information they provide to investigators. For example, log files may not be available. In addition, if the crime resulted in data being deleted, it becomes a challenge to reconstruct this data, identify the owner, and use it in cloud forensic analysis.

How to Become a Cloud Forensics Expert

Being a cloud forensics expert can be an exciting and rewarding job. Applying your technical knowledge and experience can help solve crimes and bring the perpetrators of cyberattacks to justice. One pertaining question remains: how do you become a cloud forensic expert?

Obtaining a cloud forensics certification is an excellent start if you want to begin a career as a cloud forensic professional. Cloud forensics certifications prove to potential employers that you have the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to help investigate crimes in the cloud.

EC-Council offers the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI) certification to help jumpstart your cybersecurity career. This program verifies that the learner has the necessary skills to proactively investigate complex security threats, allowing them to investigate, record, and report cybercrimes to prevent future attacks.

Taking the C|HFI course and passing the certification exam is the perfect way to show businesses that you have the skills for a job in cloud forensics. Want to learn more about how to become a cloud forensic expert? Check out EC-Council’s page on the C|HFI certification.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What is Steganalysis? How to Successfully Identify Steganography?

Steganography and Steganalysis are two different sides of the same coin. Therefore, do not confuse both of them to be the same. Steganography is the method of hiding messages in plain sight. Whereas, Steganalysis tries to detect the hidden message and retrieve the embedded data. Being said that, cyber-criminals are extensively using Steganography to hide incriminating material in their possession. Therefore, having an understanding about Steganalysis and learning the art of detecting hidden messages plays a very important role in computer forensics.

In this article, we will discuss Steganalysis, how to identify steganography, and the tools required for Steganalysis.

What Is Steganalysis In Computer Forensics?

Steganalysis in computer forensics is the technology of defeating steganography by identifying the hidden information, extracting it, and destroying it. Being said that, anyone who makes use of Steganalysis for detecting and defeating the hidden information is referred to as a Steganalyst.

The overall purpose of Steganalysis in computer forensics to identify the existence of a hidden message is to identify the tools which were used to hide the message in the first place. If the Steganalyst is able to identify the tool that was used for hiding the message, then the analyst can use the same tool for extracting the original message and subsequently destroying that message. Being said that, some of the most common hiding techniques includes appending to a file, hidden information in the unused header portion of the file, or the algorithm which is used to disperse the hidden message throughout the file.

How to Identify Steganography

There are a number of different methods of identifying steganography based on the kind of information available with the analyst. The following are some of them.

1. Stego-only attack – In this type of attack, only the stego-object is available for analysis with the Steganalyst.

2. Known cover attack – In this type of attack, both the stego-object and the original medium is available with the Steganalyst. Being said that, the stego-object is compared with the original medium to determine any hidden information.

3. Known message attack – In this type of attack, the hidden message as well as the corresponding stego-image are known to the Steganalyst. The patterns which corresponds to the information being hidden can help in discovering the information in future.

4. Known stego attack – In such attack, both the stenography algorithm as well as the stego-object and original object are known to the Steganalyst.

5. Chosen stego attack – In such attack, both the stenography algorithm as well as the stego-object are known to the Steganalyst.

6. Chosen message attack – In such attack, the Steganalyst generates the stego-object by using a tool or algorithm of the chosen message. The overall goal is to understand the patterns in the stego-object.

Digital Forensic Tools Required For Steganalysis

Stegdetect is one of the most commonly use Steganalysis tool. This digital forensic tool can help in finding the hidden information in the JPEG images by using steganography schemes such as invisible secrets, JPHide, F5, and JSteg. Moreover, the tool also has a graphical interface that is known as Xsteg.

Stego Suite from WetStone Tecnologies is another digital forensic tool that can help with Steganalysis. It the suite consist of three different products such as Stego Watch, Stego Analyst, and Stego Break. All of these three different products can help the Steganalyst in their digital forensic investigation.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What is Digital Evidence and Why Is It Important?

Digital devices surround our world in 2021. The immediate thought we get of a digital device is a computer, mobile phone, or internet. But the rise of IoT has made every electronic device a source of digital evidence. For instance, a built-in TV can be used to store, view, and share illegal images. Digital forensics experts, who are the first responders in this case, need to recognize and be able to properly seize every potential digital device for evidence.

If you are keen on a career as a forensic investigator to serve your community and help solve crimes, this blog will serve as your introduction to collecting digital evidence, along with the best path forward to pursue a calling in this exciting field.

What Is Digital Evidence?

Digital evidence can be defined as the information or valuable data stored on a computer or a mobile device that was seized by a law enforcement organization as part of a criminal investigation.

Digital evidence is commonly associated with e-crime (Electronic Crime), such as credit card fraud or child pornography. The information stored or transmitted in binary form on a computer hard drive, a mobile phone, or any other electronic device can be used as digital evidence by the forensic responders in a court of law. This evidence can include files on emails or mobile phones of the suspects, which could be critical to track their intent and location at the time of the crime and the searches they made on search platforms like Google or YouTube.

The types of evidences that a digital forensic examiner must consider are:

1. Analogical Evidence

This kind of evidence can only be useful for increasing credibility by drawing parallels when there isn’t enough information to prove something in a workplace investigation, but it cannot be produced as evidence in a court of law.

2. Anecdotal Evidence

This type of evidence can only be used to get a better picture of an issue and to support a particular conclusion, but cannot be used in court as evidence.

3. Circumstantial Evidence

This type of evidence is used to infer something based on a series of facts. It can be used in criminal investigations to separate facts from other facts that can be proven when no strong evidence is considered.

4. Character Evidence

This is a document or testimony that can help prove that the actions were taken in a particular way based on another person’s character. It can be used to prove intent, motive, or opportunity.

5. Digital Evidence

Digital evidence can be any sort of digital file from an electronic source. This includes email, text messages, instant messages, files and documents extracted from hard drives, electronic financial transactions, audio files, and video files.

6. Demonstrative Evidence

A document or an object which demonstrates a fact can be considered as demonstrative evidence.

7. Documentary Evidence

Written forms of evidence such as letters or wills, documentary forms of media evidence such as images, audio recordings, or video formats.

8. Direct Evidence

The testimony of a witness who can give a first-hand account of the incident is the most powerful type of evidence.

9. Exculpatory Evidence

A law enforcement personnel can disclose any exculpatory evidence to the defendant that they think can help the case get dismissed.

10. Forensic Evidence

Scientific evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, trace evidence, and ballistic reports comes under forensic evidence, providing solid proof for a person’s guilt or innocence.

11. Testimonial Evidence

Spoken or written evidence given by a witness forms the most common type of evidence.

What Are the Types of Digital Evidence?

There are basically two types of digital evidence:

◉ Volatile, which is non-persistent: Memory that loses its content once the power is turned off like data stored in RAM (semiconductor storage).

◉ Non-volatile, which is persistent: No change in content even if the power is turned off. For example, data stored in a tape, hard drive, CD/DVD, and ROM.

Digital evidence can be found on any server or device that stores data, including some new home gadgets such as video game consoles, GPS sports watches, and internet-enabled devices used in home automation. Digital evidence is often found through internet searches using open-source intelligence (OSINT).

Digital evidence encompass any sort of digital file from an electronic device. This includes email, text messages, instant messages, files, and documents extracted from hard drives, electronic financial transactions, audio files, video files.

The five rules while gathering digital evidence are admissible, authentic, complete, reliable, and believable.

How to Perform Digital Evidence Acquisition and Analysis?

Digital evidence collection essentially involves a 3-step sequential process:

◉ Seizing the available electronic media.

◉ Acquiring and creating a forensic image of the electronic media for examination.

◉ Analyzing the forensic image of the original media. This ensures that the original media is not modified during analysis and helps preserve the probative value of the evidence.

Large-capacity electronic devices seized as evidence in a criminal investigation, such as computer hard drives and external drives, may be 1 terabyte (TB) or larger. This is equivalent to about 17,000 hours of compressed recorded audio. Today, media can be acquired forensically at approximately 1.5 gigabytes (GB) per minute. The forensically acquired media is stored in a RAW image format, which results in a bit-for-bit copy of the data contained in the original media without any additions or deletions, even for the portions of the media that do not contain data.

Examples of Digital Evidence

These are the digital evidences that a court of law considers and allows the use of:

◉ Emails

◉ Digital photographs

◉ ATM transaction logs

◉ Word processing documents

◉ Instant messages history

◉ Accounting files

◉ Spreadsheets

◉ Internet browser history

◉ Databases

◉ Contents in a computer memory

◉ Computer backups & printouts

◉ GPS Tracks

◉ Digital video

◉ Audio files

Challenges of Digital Evidence

Collecting digital evidence requires a different kind of skill set than those required for gathering physical evidence. There are many methods for extracting digital evidence from various devices, and these methods, as well as the devices on which the evidence is stored, change rapidly. Investigators need to either develop specific technical expertise or rely on experts to do the extraction for them.

Preserving digital evidence is also challenging because, unlike physical evidence, it can be altered or deleted remotely. Investigators need to be able to authenticate the evidence and provide documentation to prove its integrity.

Source: eccouncil.org

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How to Choose a Digital Forensic Certification

Digital forensics or computer forensics is a forensics science branch that deals with the identification, recovery, and investigation of the materials found in digital devices when investigating computer-based crimes. Most organizations today are choosing to employ the services of digital forensics experts to collect information and evidence against intruders in addition to identifying them. In recent years, digital forensics has expanded to focus on mass storage devices. This led to an expansion in digital forensics certifications, which were necessary to accommodate the movement of digital crime activities outside the computer. Understandin how to choose the most appropriate digital forensics certification to become an expert in this field depends on the educational requirements, available certification options, and how various certifications line up against frameworks like NIST and NICE. Let’s dive in.

What Are the General Education Requirements for Digital Forensics Professionals?

A forensic computer analyst must be well informed on both computer programming and law enforcement standards. A bachelor’s degree is not always needed, but most employers ask for it. Related study areas at both the bachelor’s and advanced degree levels include IT, computer science, and criminal justice. For people without any of these advanced degrees, most employers will generally ask for proof of one’s background in the technical skills and knowledge of the profession from the successful completion of one of the several available digital forensics certifications.

What Are the Various Certification Options?

With a growing interest in digital forensics as a profession, many companies and associations have started offering certifications and specialized training. Some certifications offer skills in using specific software tools provided by the same companies that built them. Other certifications are provided by professional associations but are mostly available to current law enforcement employees. Selecting the right certification requires a balance between the education and experience that one has. Additionally, the skills which an individual has should complement the chosen certification.

Many of the people interested in digital forensics jobs enrol for a program that spans between 2 to 4 years, with certification courses like investigative techniques, mobile forensics, white-collar crime, computer ethics, and laws that interfere with the searching and confiscating of digital properties. Upon successful completion of a certification, a candidate can choose to work in cybersecurity, digital consulting, counterterrorism, or criminal investigation.

Entry-level programs are designed for high school graduates and require a solid base in mathematics, computer science, logic, and statistics. Advanced programs may need a bachelor’s degree in computer science and related degrees, in addition to specific certifications and competencies. Though most certifications are not well recognized, some certifications stand out from the rest. These are:

◉ Access Data Computer Examiner

◉ Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE)

◉ Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator v8 (CHFI)

How Do Various Certifications Line Up Against Frameworks like NIST and NICE?

ACE: Access Data Certified Examiner

Access Data is the company that makes the Forensic Toolkit (FTK), which is a popular solution for digital investigations. The company also offers the Access Data Certified Examiner (ACE) certification, which covers the FTK Imager, Registry Viewer, Password Recovery Toolkit, and the FTK Examiner Application management window tools. The company recommends basic to moderate forensic knowledge before trying the certification. This may include understanding registry files, digital artifacts, hashing, encrypting and decrypting files, attack types, and how to utilize live and index searching. Recertification is needed every two years, with credential holders expected to pass the current ACE exam, which focuses on the most recent versions of FTK and other tools.

CFCE: Certified Forensic Computer Examiner 

The CFCE credential was introduced by The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists. This organization mainly leans towards offering these certifications to law enforcement personnel. This is because one must be employed in law enforcement to qualify as a regular IACIS membership. To get the CFCE certification, candidates are expected to show proficiency in CFCE core competencies. IACIS membership is required to attend this course. Candidates that finish the training course can enrol directly in the CFCE program upon completion of this certification. The CFCE exam has two steps — a peer review and CFCE certification testing.

CHFI: Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

EC-Council is a training and certification organization whose specialties are penetration testing, digital forensics, and anti-hacking. The CHFI certification focuses on analytical techniques, forensics tools, and the procedures used in collecting, maintaining, and presenting digital forensic evidence and important data as legal proof in a court of law. EC-Council offers training for this certification, but candidates can appear for the exam without taking the course as long as they have a minimum of 2 years of information security experience. The CHFI course covers in-depth computer forensics, digital evidence, anti-forensics, network traffic, database, cloud forensics, mobile and email forensics, and policies and regulations.

Source: eccouncil.org

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5 of the Highest Paying Computer Forensics Jobs

As digital crimes increase aggressively, computer forensics job prospects also increase with it. Computer forensics examiners have become popular mostly because of the notorious breaches that have happened in recent years. Although computers were initially known for being implemented to commit crimes, forensics has now become the norm to capture perpetrators who believe their footprints to be untraceable when committing certain crimes.

How does computer forensics work?

Computer forensic investigation typically follows the normal digital forensic phases or methodologies, including acquisition, investigation, preservation, analysis, and presenting facts and information about digital evidence. The evidence gathered from computer forensics investigations are normally exposed to the same practices and procedures of other digital evidence.

The target of the computer forensics approach is to identify, preserve, analyze, and report information on computer systems that may be used as evidence in a civil or law court. For instance, the FBI uses IT experts to acquire critical evidence in their investigations and these crimes can be simple as cyber theft, hacking, bank fraud, phishing attacks, ransomware, or cyber espionage.

Every computer forensic investigation is unique. Some investigations may take months to complete, while others can be completed in a week. All these are dependent on factors such as the expertise of the IT professional, the amount of storage the investigator must sort through, the number of computers being examined, the presence of passworded files or encrypted files, and whether the malicious attacker tried to delete or hide information.

Is Computer Forensics a good career?

There is a high demand for expertise in computer forensics. Following the increasing reliance on the internet and computer technologies, computer forensics has become a significant part of business and law and a very lucrative career path.

As digital forensics continues to mature, so will the processes and methodologies used to support an organizations’ recovery from cyber-attacks. Computer forensics job plays a significant role in an organization’s disaster recovery approach from a cyber-attack. Recovery can start to play out when forensics processes are carefully and properly followed in the aftermath of an attack.

The input of computer forensics in criminal investigations is only going to increase in demand since the necessity for support in recovering information that can be tapped as evidence is getting more challenging for law enforcement agencies. Moreover, this growing field demands IT professionals, or cybersecurity professionals, who are experts at this type of data recovery for law enforcement and corporate settings.

Having expertise in this field is not only a critical demand but also one that improves the efforts of law enforcement with IT expertise and techniques to solve court cases and make an actual difference.

Computer forensics job salary

According to PayScale, the average salary for a computer forensic analyst is $73,892. Similarly, Salary.com suggested that the median salary for an entry-level forensic computer analyst is $64,091. This salary is determined by a number of factors, including experience, skill, education, employer, forensics job description, and the location of the job.

What is the highest paying forensics job?

You should always remember that the amount paid is determined by your level of education, experience, certifications, locations, among other subjective factors. The following are some of the highest paying forensics jobs (in no particular order).

1. Forensic Engineer

You should consider being a forensic engineer if you really want to earn an upper-level salary in this field. According to the Payscale, those who work as forensic engineers can expect to earn a median salary of 83,395 USD.

2. Cybersecurity Analyst

According to Payscale, the average salary of a Cybersecurity Analyst with forensics skills is $82,038 per annum. While the entry-level salary for this position is estimated to be close to $65,000, an experienced Cybersecurity Analyst with over 10 years of experience can earn an average of $126,000 per annum.

3. Forensic Accountant

Since several crimes involve money laundering and complicated transactions to cover up illegal activities, this is where forensic accountants and auditors come to play. According to Payscale, the median salary for a forensic accountant is $ 68,115, which can also rise to a salary of $116,000 depending on varying factors.

4. Forensic Computer Analyst

You may want to become a forensic computer analyst if you want to work in any criminal justice department. In this role, you’ll apply the skills and knowledge you gained to handle computer hard drives and storage devices to analyze user patterns, using different computer programs to recover information from destroyed media devices and prepare detailed reports after running computer analysis software applications, among others.

According to Payscale, the average Forensic Computer Analyst with forensics skills salary is $73,851 per annum.

5. Information Security Specialist

For this role, you will need a bachelor’s degree in any forensics-related course, or you will need to become a certified forensic interviewer. According to Payscale, the average Information Security Specialist with forensics skills salary is $133,192 per annum.

How to Start a Career in Digital Forensics

Source: eccouncil.org

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CHFI Certification: Prove Your Competence in Digital Forensics

Computer forensics is a high-growth field, with great potential for career progression. Organizations lean on digital forensic analysts to make out and reduce weaknesses to maintain their sensitive information secure. CHFI by EC-Council is one of the most sought-after digital forensic certifications. EC-Council not only evaluates the forensic expertise of the applicants through the CHFI exam, but it also gives on-demand training to the aspiring applicants. CHFI certified professionals are considered experts in executing forensic-related tasks, like evidence collection, intrusion analysis, information recovery, and audit trails maintenance.

What is CHFI Certification?

The CHFI, Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator certification is for professionals in defense and military professionals, systems administrators, legal professionals, banking, e-Business security professionals, insurance, IT managers, and government bodies and police and other law enforcement employees. The CHFI certification will assure that candidates have the essential skills to recognize an intruder's traces and correctly gather the proof needed to prosecute in the court of law. Applicants who can not attend official training must have at least two years of work experience in the Information Security domain to meet the eligibility criteria.

Importance of CHFI Certification

Once you pass your CHFI 312-49 certification exam, you may find that you are qualified for a diverse range of jobs. While your prevailing job experience might have qualified you earlier, it is essential to gain a respected certification that proves a commitment to the field, as well as providing strong proof that you have mastered definite areas in Computer forensics.

Read: CHFI Certification: How It Can Open Doors and Boost Your Computer Forensics Career

CHFI certification always helps earn immediate respect and qualify you as the professional you are to move forward smoothly and rapidly without having to prove your importance.

Possible Career Paths for CHFI

You can then move your career forward with several distinct brilliant career paths. You can work with law enforcement agencies who are starving for computer investigators. You might look for to work with an organization that finds your particular skillset important to their information technology division. Some of the job profiles that you can take into consideration might involve the following:

• Security Engineer
• Digital Forensic Analyst
• Cyber Security Malware Analyst
• Security Auditor
• Security Manager
• Penetration Tester
• Application Security Analyst
• Computer Security Incident Response & Recovery
• Forensics Cyber Weapons and Tactics Advisor

Read: Key Roles of Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI): Briefly Explained

How to Prepare for CHFI Certification?

1. Start in Advance

EC-Council CHFI exam is nearly impossible to crack if you do last-minute cramming. Rather, you should start studying before 3-4 months to your scheduled exam date. You're going to be assessed on your skill to read a question, analyze it, and practice concepts. Although most candidates hardly run into questions that at first don't appear to relate to anything they've studied, you can be confused by them if you cram. The CHFI syllabus topics you're being examined on demand a type of understanding that can only be obtained over an organized, thorough course of study—not last-moment, frenzied reviews of study materials.

2. Design Study Schedule

To pass the CHFI exam, you need a solid grasp of the concepts and implement them. Besides, you need to practice answering CHFI test questions because the EC-Council certification exams demand you to employ analytical methods to conclude at your answers. Although there are motivated applicants who can design their study schedule effortlessly, it's more probable that you're unsure how or where to begin. Paycheques you receive after passing the CHFI exam are an excellent way to turn doubt into confidence.

To prepare for the CHFI certification exam, you can avail plenty of resources online. The cost of study material can depend on what kind of resources you choose. You can choose from books, online courses, online study guides and blogs, practice tests, and online communities.

3. Focus on Taking CHFI Practice Tests

If possible, try to take leave from your job in the last two weeks before the exam for revision and practice tests. Treat the CHFI practicetest as if they are actual exams. Don't get the practice questions in advance. Take time-bound practice tests to get a feel for the time limitations and stress of exam day. You have an average of about 1.6 minutes per CHFI question.

Although working on the areas where you scored poorly is essential, don't overlook your more vital CHFI syllabus topics. They need to stay in your mind for long.

4. Have a Game Plan to Stay Calm and Composed on Exam Day

The secret to staying focused and calm while taking the exam is to have a game plan before you sit for the exam. To avoid the last moment rush, be ready early. Don't spend too much time on one question.

For the questions that give you difficulty, first reread to understand them. Then, if you still can't conclude to the best answer, try to drop at least one and make a wise guess. Even if you don't have an idea, you should still mark an answer. That's better than leaving it blank because there is no negative marking. Whatever you do, don't frighten if you find several tricky questions in a row. It only makes things more dangerous.

Conclusion
If the world of digital forensic attracts you, if you want to help resolve crimes or discover compromised computer systems, or catch devil employees, then there is no time like the now to begin preparation for the CHFI exam.

There are plenty of job opportunities, and the salaries are usually very high with other types of jobs.

Start studying on your own, take some courses, perform practice tests, achieve your CHFI certificate, and apply for your dream job. It is an interesting and demanding field, but it will require time and effort.

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Computer Forensic Training in the Age of Intelligence

Computer forensic training exposes students to how to deal with the process of gathering cyber-crime related proofs and files and thereby analyzing them totally to uncover any possible engagement with criminal activities and deceptive moves. This is one of the fields in which the military, intelligence companies, Corporations, and law enforcement concentrate. There is a protocol in which the computer forensics training highlights. It primarily concentrates on the meticulous observation of all evidence since these findings are to be presented before the court.

Computer forensic training gears up students with a full range of computer forensics skills; Students learn to construct digital forensics toolkits. They also establish skills to track a criminal on the web, define proper evidence dealing with treatments and learn how to deal with law enforcement firms. The trainees discover to apply tested investigative techniques and are lastly awarded the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certifications. Wide arrays of techniques are used to discover information hidden in a computer system. Experts are, in some cases, utilized to assist in recuperating erased, encrypted, or harmed file information. Any or all evidence acquired can be used for discovery, depositions, or actual litigation. People who are focused on computer forensics are often referred to as a CCE or a Certified Computer Examiner. Computer system forensic training includes a training program with online examinations.

Government companies and private sector companies have seen an increased need for computer forensics in previous years. The computer-based proof is typically utilized in cases where incriminating documents are most likely to be discovered on a computer like monetary fraud, data theft, and so on. Civil cases make use of organization and personal records found on computer systems for fraud, harassment, divorce and discrimination cases, etc.

Computer forensics training and intelligence

Computer forensic cover concerns like protocols and networks and the architecture of operating systems. They also consist of crime analysis and criminal offense scene management and courtroom/expert witness skills. In order to equal the ever-changing innovation and advances, course products for computer forensic training are upgraded continuously to keep candidates updated on the most current techniques and skills in the field of forensics. Trainees are qualified for Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certification.

Taking a computer forensics training will also make it possible for the individual to make the most of the increasing need for computer system forensic experts. Computers are getting more sophisticated and more vital as the years go by. Most of them have also ended up being easier to use while being top-notch. Due to this, cyber-criminal activities have also increased. Computer forensics training concentrates on equipping you with the ability to flawlessly manage tasks such as retrieving the data which have been kept in an electronic gadget or any digital media. A computer system forensics private investigator can amazingly restore the deleted files and the training nonetheless hones such skill.

More so, numerous intelligence agencies such as the military and the police field see the need to utilize computer forensics in uncovering any motives or proofs to solve the criminal offenses that they deal with. Most of the time, suspects to the crime that uses the computer data in their delinquencies are tracked down by the computer forensics analyst. Anyone who is suspected of leakage or use any of the confidential information in a business to a 3rd party can be found out with the assistance of a computer forensics analyst. The training for computer forensics prepares the students with the essential certifications required for using the methods in response to the need of the task. The field of computer forensics is, however, expanding and the more several opportunities to grab for potential specialists.

The main job of a computer forensic private investigator is to restore both the actively and accidentally erased information. More so, the training also points out the most suitable tools and software to utilize on a case to case basis.

Responsibilities of a Computer Forensic Examiner

As a forensic computer analyst, you’ll need to: offer with extremely sensitive or confidential data or images, depending on the type of case you are investigating, use a variety of forensic tools and software to extract and examine data, secure a system or gadget so it cannot be damaged, recuperate harmed, deleted or access concealed, safeguarded or encrypted files, unlock digital images that are locked to hide the identity of a location or person, examine data from smartphones and satellite navigation systems to trace individuals or places, gather info and evidence in a legally acceptable way, present findings of on-going incidents to other members in the examination group, police and clients and also keep up to date with developing cyber-crime techniques and developments within the digital forensics field.

Credential Requirement

The certification program suggests competence in forensics techniques and treatments, standards of practice, and legal and ethical principles guarantee precise, total, and reliable digital proof permissible in a law court. It also indicates the ability to use forensics to other info security disciplines, such as e-discovery, malware analysis, or incident reaction.

There are no licensure examinations to be gone through just that there are particular credentials that should be provided. But before one can certify to handle the responsibilities designated for a private investigator, he has first to undergo the extensive computer system forensics training. Among the significant qualifications that one can provide are the official education bases such as the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) or Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA) and many more.

Digital crimes are intensifying now and then, so there is the significance of computer system forensics experts in the fields of military forces, police, company corporations, and other related institutions. The purpose of the computer and digital forensics is to determine if a device was used for illegal purposes, ranging from computer hacking to storing illegal pornography or records of other illegal activity.

How do you get certified in forensic science?

The EC-Council is a well-known training and certification organization that specializes in the areas of anti-hacking, digital forensics, and penetration testing. The organization’s Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certification emphasizes forensics tools, analytical techniques, and procedures involved in obtaining, maintaining, and presenting digital forensic evidence and data in a court of law.

The EC-Council offers training for this credential however allows challenging the exam without taking the course provided they have a minimum of 2 years of information security experience and paying a non-refundable $100 eligibility application cost.

The CHFI course covers a large range of topics and tools (click the exam Blueprint on the certification web page). Topics include an overview of digital forensics, in-depth coverage of the computer forensics examination process, working with a digital proof, anti-forensics, database, and cloud forensics, examining network traffic, mobile and email forensics, and principles, policies and policies. Courseware is readily available, in addition to instructor-led classroom training. The EC-Council provides many other accreditations of prospective value to readers interested in the CHFI. These include the Qualified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CEH (Practical), EC-Council Certified Security Expert (ECSA), ECSA Practical, Licensed Network Protector (CND) and Certified Penetration Tester (LPT), Qualified Application Security Engineer (CASE), and Certified Chief Information Gatekeeper (CCISO). It likewise uses qualifications in associated areas such as catastrophe healing, file encryption, and security analysis. 

Source: eccouncil.org

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How You Can Practice CHFI Skills at Work

How would a computer hacking forensic investigator certification be helpful in a typical workplace? It seems like something out of an episode of CSI where people require to catch the bad guys through their computers or phones.

CHFI comprises identifying cyber-attacks, evaluating the issue to stop future attacks, and finding evidence utilized in reporting the crime. A CHFI expert is accountable for getting information from flash drives, remote servers, computers, and other forms of data storage devices. An investigator works with the concerned business and law enforcement authorities.

Skills Obtained through CHFI Certification

CHFI certification qualifies professionals how to carry out investigations precisely so that evidence will retain its morality and be helpful during prosecution of cybercrimes. Professionals will also learn how to retrieve deleted files and obtain hidden information on Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.
Another feature of a forensic investigation is the recovery of lost information, which can occur due to sabotage or equipment failure. Forensic investigators should also be able to analyze the information they find to understand the impact of a hack and the degree of a data breach.

• CHFI Certification: How It Can Open Doors and Boost Your Computer Forensics Career

In some cases, the cybercrime intricate isn’t a data breach but requires possession of illegal materials like pornography. CHFI skills can be used to detect the possession of pornography and collect evidence for prosecution.
CHFI certification can be valuable in many different jobs to improve your skillset so you can meet your employer’s continually developing needs. Here are some ways you might use a CHFI certification in your IT job.

1. To find out whether your network was breached.

IT security professionals and systems administrators can practice the skills acquired from a CHFI certification to help determine network breaches, should they occur. In many cases, they can also work toward concluding who was behind the breach and help law enforcement distinguish them so they can be prosecuted.
Instead of your organization having no idea its security was breached or that client data was compromised, CHFI-certified professionals will have the skills to detect a breach, or expectantly, to avoid or stop it before any information is imperiled.

2. To expand law enforcement training.

For police and other law enforcement officers, CHFIcertification can help them to investigate cybercrime and arrest cybercriminals. Cybercrime is on the peak, and law enforcement training has lagged because it is relatively new and continually evolving.
CHFI certification could help you get reinforced to the detective or other supervisory jobs where greater expertise about cybercrime and data breaches is essential.

3. To constitute a criminal or civil case against hackers, or defend accused cybercriminals.

The CHFI certification may be beneficial for lawyers, both prosecutors and defense lawyers, who may come across ever more frequent cases concerning cybersecurity and data breaches. A thorough understanding of hacking and computer forensics may be needed to correctly prosecute or defend these cases.

4. To assure that disloyal employees don’t steal information or resources, or to gather evidence that they did so to prosecute them.

Disloyal employees could use their access to company servers and networks to theft corporate secrets or give other people access to corporate data and networks. Earning a CHFI certification can assure that your organization remains safe, or that unfaithful employees who have already destroyed company data can be brought to justice.

5. To be sure dismissed employees don’t interrupt the network or any part of the server.

After employees are suspended, they may want to hit back at the company by stealing data, information, or money from the organization. They may also attempt to ruin data or systems. CHFI certification can stop these attacks or allow the collection of evidence to sue them after the fact.

Career Prospects for a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

There is a huge demand for CHFI-certified professionals across industries. CHFI-certified individuals are being hired not only by IT and IT security organizations but also by the defense and military sectors, legal practices, law enforcement agencies, banking, and insurance companies.
The CHFI certification certifies an applicant’s skills to gather the required evidence of theft to prosecute in a court of law. Starting salaries in the computer forensics field can go as high as $85,000 to $120,000. According to Payscale.com, on an average, a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) receives around $86,000 annually in the U.S.

Certified CHFI professionals can pursue the following roles:

• Information Security Analyst
• Computer Forensics Analyst
• Ethical Hacker
• Malware Analyst
• Network Security Specialist
• Security Administrator
• IT Security Consultant
• Penetration Tester
• Homeland Cyber Security
• IT Auditor

 Thus, Computer Hacking Forensic Investigators aresteadily becoming inescapable for the organization of all sizes. As an IT professional geared up to join the domain of ethical hacking, CHFI Certification is indeed your great opportunity.

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