My chosen career in cybercrime is a computer scientist with a specialty in computer forensics. The area of specialization would be human trafficking. The use of the internet and the dark web has enabled human traffickers to conduct this heinous act with ease hence the choice of this career to prevent human trafficking. This article will describe the career in detail, including the qualifications for the career, the degree, certifications, and experience needed for the job and the job market. This article will also give a typical description of the career, responsibilities of an individual in this career and describe what a usual day in cybercrime is about and lastly the additional experience in maintaining a career in cybercrime. Cybercrime is an important career in averting and managing cybercrimes in the world.
The qualification for a career in cybercrime is a bachelor’s degree in a course related to information technology. A bachelor’s degree is later required for admission into a special agent training program. Even if no major is required a student may want to consider taking up special programs that are related to criminal justice, computer science, and cybersecurity. These programs will enhance student’s skills in fighting cybercrime. Another qualification for a career in cybercrime is an internship. Many organizations, both the public and private organizations offer internships to fresh graduates to provide them with experience in various fields they want to pursue later in their future careers. Professional experience in specific areas helps with entry into a career as well as advancement in a career. The specific areas include areas such as accounting, information technology, and finance among others. Special agent training is another requirement for the job. The last requirement is to attend FBI’s new agent training program. In the special training computer science which is a core study for cybercrime job is a major career path. The special training is done in the FBI Academy in Quantico and runs for an average of 21 weeks ( Coughlin, 2013 ).
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The first step to having a career in cybercrime is acquiring education and an undergraduate degree. Some of the degrees, one can choose from include computer-related degrees such as computer science, information technology, and computer engineering among others. Some individuals choose to have more specific training in computers, hence acquiring degrees such as network engineering, information security, and information forensics. The aim of the undergraduate degree is so that the students will have a broad understanding of cybersecurity and job functions, such as programming, management of the database and general comprehension of how network systems work. The skills are usually taught in the computer science programs. Some students minor in other courses such as accounting to increase their knowledge and skills in fighting crime related to finances and money transfers. Some information technology professionals cross into cybercrime through training in advanced degrees in specialized areas such as information assurance. The advanced degrees give cybercrime fighting professionals a competitive edge since they add more knowledge in the technical skills they already acquired in undergraduate and others in junior jobs. The people with advanced degrees will usually develop technical skills and management with time in their jobs, and consequently, they go into policymaking. Their activities are directly related to senior level positions of investigator positions ( How Do You Get a Job as a Cybercrime Investigator? n.d).
Computer science graduates are mostly known for their programming skills, and that enables them to get jobs related to software, hardware, and management of data systems. It is expected that jobs in investigations related to human trafficking will grow at a faster rate than other jobs. The two main areas where people with computer scientists could work include the federal bureau of investigation, homeland security, the central investigation agency and the association of fraud investigators among others. It is also important to note that cybersecurity professionals are needed in all industries meaning the graduates are not restricted in a particular industry. The opportunities in cybercrime are also projected to rise with an individual’s education level consequently many opportunities for career advancement (Malvik, 2017).
A typical job description of this career includes basically the use of computer programs to fight human trafficking. The job description is expected to change depending on where one is employed and their level of employment. When one is employed in a crime-fighting organization, the description would include identification of online activities that are illegal and are in anticipation of crime happening. The career is about preventing crime before they can happen. The people fighting cybercrime have to be keen in their work as they work to prevent future crime. The career involves conceptualizing concepts and challenges and finding potential solutions for the challenges. The investigators against human trafficking also have to develop new applications and systems that can solve complex encryption that can crack encryptions made by potential human traffickers. The knowledge of computer science is also expected to help these professionals research to develop new products that will solve both software and hardware problems.
The responsibilities of an individual in a career fighting against human trafficking involve the use of their computer skills in studying traffic in surface and dark web to identify any activity that is connected to human trafficking. The internet has provided criminals with a platform where they can conduct business without fear, for instance through the dark web the criminals can hide their identity as they conduct business. It is important that an investigator can surf the dark web and identify actions that could lead to human trafficking. Following money transfers through bitcoin is also the responsibility of an investigator fighting human trafficking. The dark web uses bitcoin in transactions hence its hand to know who the two parties involved in a transaction were, hence maintaining privacy. They are also expected to utilize the resources in their use with care with efficiency and minimal wastage (Nordrum, 2017).
A typical day in this career involves conducting follow upon filed cases to identify any possible trends or similarities among cases. Prepare and complete prosecution reports for the filed cases. It is also the duty of an investigator in human trafficking to make plans to intercept criminal activities based on the identified patterns or similarities in previous cases. Coordination and constant communication with prosecutors is also a daily duty of an investigator. On some occasions, an investigator is expected in court to act as an advisory in criminal prosecution ( Faust, 2016) . Communication with the victims of human trafficking and their families among other people in their line of work so that they can maintain working relationships that can aid in the investigations against human trafficking is another daily activity of another investigator involved in fighting against human trafficking.
In conclusion, investigators of human trafficking require knowledge in computer science, and they work to prevent and manage cybercrimes such as human trafficking among other responsibilities. Training for cybercrime prevention involves the right training which is undertaking an undergraduate degree and other training which includes special training. Some experience through an internship is also helpful in securing jobs as an investigator. Computer scientists can fight cybercrime in various organizations with the main employers being government agencies enforcing the law, for instance, federal bureau of investigation among others. The responsibilities of an individual in cybercrime are many, but basically, they involve utilizing digital data forensics to prevent potential crimes.
References
Malvik, C. (2017). Is a Cyber Security Degree Worth It? The Facts You Can't Ignore . Retrieved from https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/cyber-security-degree-worth-it/
Coughlin, J. J. (2013). Cargo Crime: Security and Theft Prevention . CRC Press
Faust, D. R. (2016). A Career as an FBI Special Agent . New York: Rosen Digital.
How Do You Get a Job as a Cybercrime Investigator? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mastersinit.org/faq/how-do-you-get-a-job-as-a-cybercrime-investigator
Nordrum, A. (2017, February 24). Law-enforcement agencies around the globe are hiring cyberexperts to outwit criminals. IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved from https://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/profiles/profile-fbi-special-agent-mitchell-thompson-fights-cybercrime
