“Perl is a programming language adept at processing lists and
strings. If you want to search log files and output the
information, Perl is a very useful tool. Some computer writers have
characterized the language as the duct tape of computing. The New
Hacker’s Dictionary describes it as the “Swiss-Army Chainsaw.” Its
compactness, flexibility, and relative ease of use make it
attractive to hackers of all persuasions.”
“While one doesn’t have to be a master programmer to be a
computer crime sleuth, being able to read code helps generate
insight. If you find a Perl script useful for checking the aging of
passwords, for example, understanding how the program works goes a
long way toward implementing the tool properly. And, you learn
during the process how to develop your own tools. Some
investigators may prefer C or C++ as a starting point. That
preference has some merit since quite a few computer security tools
are available written in those languages. But the most important
skill is to learn a code and then build on that knowledge. More
common ground exists between languages than you might realize.”