Cryptologists decipher hidden languages, crack secret codes, and protect information. They work for government agencies, military organizations, credit card companies, banks, and law enforcement. A bachelor’s degree in computer science, telecommunications, or computer programming is required, and higher-level positions may require master’s or doctoral degrees.
A cryptologist is a person who works to decipher the hidden language, crack secret codes and find ways to protect information. An individual in this line of work might help create codes that the military can use to communicate in secret, or he might help provide counterterrorism intelligence. A cryptologist can also find ways to disguise information that is passed from spies to their employers. In fact, a person in this field might even work to find ways to prevent Internet users’ private information from falling into the wrong hands.
Cryptologists are often found working for government agencies and helping the military. A cryptologist working for the military can take messages made up of foreign words and symbols and translate them into messages that his employer can understand and use. When he cracks the code of that data, he can provide information that can be used to prevent tragedies and save lives.
While government and military organizations may be the most frequent employers of cryptologists, these ciphers can work for other types of organizations as well. For example, an individual in this field might work to help credit card companies or banks protect their customers from identity theft. An individual in this field devises and implements methods that serve to disguise the information people send over the Internet so that it is less likely to fall into the wrong hands. The job a cryptologist can help is to keep a person’s credit card numbers or bank account information out of the hands of thieves.
Interestingly, a cryptologist can also work to analyze financial data and trends, using their skills to predict changes in the stock market. An individual in this field can strive to help companies figure out the best times to invest and how much to invest. It can also analyze computer viruses and worms, looking for patterns that tell it how to defeat them. A cryptologist may even be called in to analyze patterns in DNA.
Sometimes a cryptologist may also work to help local law enforcement. For example, it can help decipher gang members’ secret communications. It can even help police officers see patterns in a serial killer’s activities.
A person who wants to become a cryptologist can prepare by earning a bachelor’s degree in a major field such as computer science, telecommunications, or computer programming. Some people can also start entry-level jobs in that field with degrees in foreign languages or mathematics. To move beyond an entry-level position, a person may need to be fluent in foreign languages and have an expert-level grasp of math and computer programming concepts. Additionally, many employers prefer cryptologists with master’s and doctoral degrees, especially for higher-level positions.
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