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Hi, Advice please, Courses, Job prospects, Life !

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(@hewpew)
Posts: 2
New Member
Topic starter
 

Hi there,

Im in the process of sorting my UCAS out for 2007 uni entry, CF looks very interesting but there are still a good few things puzzling me and am looking for some advice please. I have been looking into Forensic Computing at the Uni of Chester, with a possibility of Combined Honours with Criminology, Opinions ?? I have also been looking into what the graduate options are ?? Is it easy to get a job, is prostgrad study advised ? and What are the salaries like ?
Any Advice would be of great help,
Thanks Huw

e-mail - hewpew@hotmail.com

 
Posted : 02/11/2006 9:43 pm
steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
 

Huw,

There have been a few similar threads in this forum over the recent months and if you havent read those I would recommend reading through them, especially the one on the end of this link http//www.forensicfocus.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1071

The advice I gave then is perhaps better suited to you than the original poster in this message in that we are both UK based.

I really would recommend a general computing degree whether you are going into a differnet computer related field or into computer forensics. To specialise too much at this early stage will result in you missing out on so much that is important. As I say in my advice in that thread to iamapyro, "you could find yourself pitted against an opposite forensic examiner who used to work as a systems admin on the very systems you are examinning". Who would the jury believe? the examiner who had worked on the system for years or the examiner with the forensics degree?

I would guess very few people actually get into the career they want to be in in their early twenties. If this statement is true it could mean two things for you, firstly, that you have plenty of time to get into computer forensics and secondly that if you decided you didnt like it, would your degree get you into network admin, IT support, database admin etc, etc?

In terms of saleries the bulk of the jobs in this career pay about the same as a systems admin, senior IT support officer or low level IT manager in the first 2-10 years, with the possiblity of earning more from as little as 3 years onwards.

Be aware also that a significant amount of work will involve viewing the computers of paedophiles, who may have picture and video files that are extremely graphic. They can be very unpleasant but of course working on these cases also allows you the chance to identify other offenders and perhaps other victims, something that can make the unpleaseant side worth it.

It is a good career but I would suggest a mainstream computer degree in the first instance. It's definately what I would do if I was in your position but having the knowledge I have now.

Steve

 
Posted : 02/11/2006 10:33 pm
(@hewpew)
Posts: 2
New Member
Topic starter
 

thank you very much, tis apprechiated to have an unbiased (unis are terrable for showing only the good sides of everything and being very selective with sats!) and a voice of experience also

thank you huw

 
Posted : 02/11/2006 11:41 pm
AUDIOleaf
(@audioleaf)
Posts: 5
Active Member
 

I would Like to say that I read what you wrote steve862 and I think you helped me out a little too. See i'm also in my early 20's and I'm going to ITT for an associates in computer networking systems. What I think is great, is that the average salary of students with this degree, is around 30K a year. What i'm still uncertain about is what to do after I recieve that degree. I know that I would really like to get into computer forensics, so i'm going down the right path, but should I get another degree in JUST computer forensics? or a certificate at a local community college? what bachelors degree would be most accepted by employers who hire me because of a assoc. degree in CNS???

I would appreciate any guidance. Thanks.

-charles

 
Posted : 05/12/2006 1:51 am
steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
 

Audioleaf,

It's more difficult to advise you with regards your next move as I am not so familiar with what US employers are looking for. If there is a course you can do covering forensic computing that you feel has a sufficiently good reputation and is affordable then taking it will not be a waste of your time and money.

When you do go for an interview for a forensic computing job at some time in the future you are going to have to demonstrate knowledge of relevant laws, so a bit of research here will be good. You will be asked how you would deal with certain things, how you would find and interpeate data and how you would use this information once gained. You will also have to answer questions of a technical nature and you will need to show how you would turn the evidence you gain into a report.

If you consider all these things you will probably agree that much of this preparation can be done in your own free time by researching and testing. The qualifications will hopefully get you the interview and the knowledge from this research/testing will hopefully get you the job.

Steve

 
Posted : 05/12/2006 8:08 pm
steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
 

Audioleaf,

It's more difficult to advise you with regards your next move as I am not so familiar with what US employers are looking for. If there is a course you can do covering forensic computing that you feel has a sufficiently good reputation and is affordable then taking it will not be a waste of your time and money.

When you do go for an interview for a forensic computing job at some time in the future you are going to have to demonstrate knowledge of relevant laws, so a bit of research here will be good. You will be asked how you would deal with certain things, how you would find and interpeate data and how you would use this information once gained. You will also have to answer questions of a technical nature and you will need to show how you would turn the evidence you gain into a report.

If you consider all these things you will probably agree that much of this preparation can be done in your own free time by researching and testing. The qualifications will hopefully get you the interview and the knowledge from this research/testing will hopefully get you the job.

Steve

 
Posted : 05/12/2006 8:08 pm
AUDIOleaf
(@audioleaf)
Posts: 5
Active Member
 

Thank you so much for the quick response. ROUGHLY knowing the kinds of qualifications they're looking for, helps me out so much (just because not every employer looks for the same thing) but it does help. I think gaining some experience in computer security would help and I think I am going to try and shoot for a certificate in CF at this local college along with some criminal justice classes. I really once again appreciate the help. I just wish I could find a place where I could intern with people that do what you do.

thanks again.

ps. just curious, how often is unix/linux used in the field?? I will be taking classes in each.

 
Posted : 06/12/2006 11:48 pm
steve862
(@steve862)
Posts: 194
Estimable Member
 

Audioleaf,

We don't get very many Linux or Unix machines in but do get a fair number of Apple Macs, which is a fairly similar operating system.

There are however some very useful Linux utilities when doing forensic work. The ability to disable mounting a disk as read/write so you can analyse the file-system without altering the files. The way you can use DD to create an image of the hard drive including unallocated space within partitions and space not allocated to any partitions. You can use the MD5 command to validate the integrity of the image. You can then use GREP to search for things XXD to analyse and so on. You could cary out a full exam using Linux only but the reality is that when you start a job in CF you will use FTK or EnCase. Even so that Linux knowledge would not be wasted as you could use it as a means of verifying what your main forensic tool is reporting. It might also impress future employers with your determination to get ahead and will give you skills they may not have in abundance.

Regards,

Steve

 
Posted : 07/12/2006 3:00 pm
(@armresl)
Posts: 1011
Noble Member
 

Computer Security and Computer Forensics are two totally different things. If you are looking towards incident response then you will be analyzing a lot of files that you potentially wouldn't have and or need to analyze in a non live type system.

No one will ever have all the abilities that are needed to do everything associated with this type career, there are just too many different things to learn. Try focusing on one and keep your mind open to others while you are learning that one.
Lots of people talk about using Linux, but mostly the people mentioning this are well versed in this area already. You don't want to find yourself in the position of having a tool that you don't know the inner workings of besides putting in the CD and being told that it will not write to the drive and use such and such a command to execute a search.

If you have access to reading through testimony or depos of computer forensic related items, you should read through them. Knowing what types of questions that AUSA/Prosecutor's and defense attorneys might ask you will help you in items you may need to study more specifically.

 
Posted : 08/12/2006 4:28 am
AUDIOleaf
(@audioleaf)
Posts: 5
Active Member
 

Hey steve and armresl, I appreciate the responses. Its good to know that the linux/unix course won't be wasted, and I think it would be smart if I did more research on the differences of computer security and computer forensics a little more closely. Because I was almost considering taking up that ISS degree, (info sys sec) and if it's different, I should focus on something more related to CF. Thanks again.

 
Posted : 08/12/2006 7:18 am
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