Find a university that teaches digital forensics and apply. There are many around the nation that teach this discipline, including Champlain University and InfoSec Institute. Get into the university and apply to study digital forensics.
Create a course of study with your class adviser that will help get you succeed in the program. Courses commonly studied include Internet research, criminal law, world civilizations and digital forensics.
Begin and finish the digital forensic protocol course, which is designed to introduce you to the basics of this profession. Course topics will include digital forensic protocols, electronic evidence in litigation and electronic surveillance. These early courses require reading and studying and little participatory activity.
Begin and finish the first digital forensics course, which introduces the procedures and methods for digital forensics. Students must read and sign a code of ethics and conduct to participate in this course. Course topics include ethics, case management, the different types of data, creating good reports, documentation, forensic imaging, software and tools, insurance issues and how to market yourself to potential employers. You will begin applying these methods in a hands-on environment, using state of the art computer and data processing software, which helps train you for using these computer methods in your career.
Begin and finish the second digital forensics course, which will introduce you to more advanced ideas of digital forensics, including Windows Registry, INFO2 files, event logs, testing information, verifying data legitimacy, creating case studies, data hiding techniques, overcoming encryption and passwords, email analysis, analyzing Internet history, and understanding Internet viruses and malware. You will be introduced to more advanced hands-on techniques, such as how to use key loggers to find passwords and how to hack past encryption.
Begin and finish your network security courses, which will show you how to defeat and circumvent network security as well as how to make sure your network isn't penetrable by hackers. You will learn about firewall programs, intrusion detection systems, business security concerns, cryptography, attacks and countermeasures, disaster recovery plans, email vulnerabilities, encryption and incident response.
Continue taking the rest of the courses necessary for your degree. As you progress, you will learn and master many hands-on methods that will prepare you for a career as a digital forensics specialist.