About This Exam
CHFI – Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (Exam Code: 312-49)
CHFI is a globally recognized certification from EC-Council that validates your skills in conducting digital forensics investigations and managing electronic evidence. It is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and hands‑on expertise needed to uncover hacking footprints, extract critical evidence, and support legal prosecutions in cybercrime cases.
Key Exam Details:
- Exam Code: 312-49
- Exam Title: Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator
- Format: Multiple Choice
- Number of Questions: 150
- Duration: 4 Hours
- Passing Score: Approximately 70% (with cut scores varying between 60% and 85% per exam form)
- Delivery: Available via the EC‑Council Exam Portal
What the CHFI Exam Covers:
- Digital Forensics Fundamentals: Principles of computer forensics, digital evidence, chain-of-custody, and legal compliance.
- Forensic Investigation Process: Steps from incident identification, evidence collection, preservation, and analysis to reporting.
- Hard Disk & File System Analysis: Understanding disk drives, file systems, and methods to recover deleted files.
- Data Acquisition & Duplication: Techniques for creating and handling forensic images.
- Anti-Forensics Techniques: Detection and countering of methods that attackers use to hide or destroy evidence.
- Platform-Specific Forensics:
- Windows Forensics: Memory, registry analysis, event logs, ShellBags, and artifacts.
- Linux/Mac Forensics: Volatile and non‑volatile data acquisition and analysis.
- Network & Web Forensics: Investigating network traffic, logs, and web server attacks.
- Advanced Forensics: Dark Web investigations, database forensics, cloud forensics, and email/malware forensics.
- Mobile & IoT Forensics: Techniques for analyzing mobile devices and IoT-related evidence.
Certification Path & Eligibility:
- Prerequisites: While there is no strict mandatory prerequisite, candidates are recommended to have a basic understanding of IT, cybersecurity, and incident response. Attending an official EC‑Council CHFI training course (via an Accredited Training Center, iClass, or approved academic institution) is highly advised. Alternatively, candidates with relevant work experience may apply directly via the eligibility application process.
Who Should Take the CHFI Exam:
- Law enforcement and government personnel
- Digital forensics investigators and cybercrime analysts
- System administrators and IT security professionals
- Legal professionals and compliance officers
- Security consultants and risk managers
Study & Preparation Tips:
- Study Guides & Books: Use comprehensive CHFI study materials to build a solid theoretical foundation.
- Hands‑On Labs: Engage in practical labs to simulate real‑world forensic investigations.
- Practice Exams: Regularly take practice tests to familiarize yourself with the exam format and reduce test anxiety.
- Video Tutorials & Instructor‑Led Training: Complement self-study with guided training for clarifying complex topics.
Benefits of Earning CHFI Certification:
- Enhances your ability to conduct thorough digital investigations and support legal proceedings.
- Validates your expertise to employers across law enforcement, corporate security, and government sectors.
- Opens up diverse career opportunities in digital forensics, incident response, and cybercrime investigation.
- Provides a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.
Achieving the CHFI certification (312-49) demonstrates that you possess the practical skills and theoretical knowledge required to effectively handle and investigate cyber incidents, making you a valuable asset in today’s cybersecurity field.
