Digital Device Security & Forensics ...

The Future of Education in Computer / Cell Phone Forensics
I have been asking many academics in England, the Far East, and in the United States about both the present methods of teaching cell phone forensics and computer forensics and how that may change. In 2008, there was generally more money available for corporate security professionals and academics to fly to remote locations, book a hotel, and take a week long class.

However; in the last two years there has been a shakeup in the financial community that has caused companies to lose business and cut their expenses. Training seems to be one of the first things that are cut. This is very unfortunate because computer and cell phone forensic experts need to constantly update their training and perform digital evidence examinations in order to keep their certifications current.

Yoel Piney of PSE&G is a digital evidence investigator who needs to have the latest training in computer and cell phone forensic software but cannot spare the time or expense to fly, book a hotel, and take a class in another state. Yoel and other digital investigators have engaged in a new trend in education.

They sign up for a class with someone such as Guidance Software, and an instructional video is streamed to their desktop computer through the Internet with a telecommunication tool known as webex. Yoel can use his phone to ask the professor a specific question about any concerns he has with the material. This streamed software is known as a webinar and it allows a group of students around the United States to get real time education at a lowst cost. Such training can be viewed at the office and provides minimal disruption to their schedule. The webinar allowed Yoel to stay current in his expertise while also allowing his company to reduce expenses which in turn is good for the consumer.

Dr. Doherty of Fairleigh Dickinson University and Lt. Andrew Donofrio of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office received money through a grant from the National Institute of Justice to create a webinar on digital forensic investigative techniques [1]. s for which they completed the first of multiple parts. Universities are finding that webinars are one of many effective means to teach very specialized subjects to a geographically diverse population with limited resources. The student can download the webinar on a laptop with a broadband Internet connection, and then email or use a telephone to ask questions to an instructor. Powerpoint slides and PDF format handouts are the supplementary materials that can also be downloaded and printed. Trial versions of forensic software that contain limited function are often free or available at limited cost to the student from vendors such as Guidance Software, Susteen, or Access Data.

In conclusion Dr. Doherty and Yoel Piney agree that in tough economic times, the webinar in tandem with trial versions of forensic software, will be the most cost effective and convenient method to train digital evidence and keep their certifications current.



Dr. Doherty at Wroxton, a Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in England

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