How to Recognize a Braindump
A reader in the technical certification forum recently asked a question that shows he or she is considering using a braindump Web site for certification help. Since we just published an article on the evils of braindumps, as a follow up we thought it would be helpful to know how to distinguish legitimate certification prep sites from braindump sites.
Although not obvious at first glance, certain characteristics are common to most or all braindump sites. If you see these, run the other way.
1. It may list itself as a braindump. A number of sites are shameless about their purpose, and put the name "Braindump" or some variation, usually including the word "dump", in the site. Remember that a legitimate exam preparation site will never call itself a braindump. Run, don't walk, away from such sites.
2. It will usually offer answers for all exams for one price. Most braindump sites offer a single price, normally between about $80-$100, for access to all their exams. Legitimate test prep sites will have no such offers; exams are priced per test. Yes, it's more money, but you will learn the material and be better prepared for a job you land with the help of your credential. Memorizing correct answers will prepare you for nothing more than a tongue-lashing when you can't do a job right.
3. Links to the same group of braindump sites. Most braindump sites are owned by just a few disreputable companies. That means they will have advertisements and links to their peer braindump sites. If you cruise enough of those sites, you'll see the same names over and over. It's a dead giveaway that the Web site, as well as the others advertised, are cheats.
4. Poor grammar. It's painfully obvious that these braindumps aren't set up by people with even the most basic grasp of grammar. In most cases, they appear to be made by those for whom English isn't a native language. Errors appear everywhere, and are often laughably bad. This isn't to suggest that lousy grammar is necessarily a sign of a bad Web site, but it is something found on most braindumps.
5. There are hundreds of tests offered. Legitimate test prep sites know they can't offer high-quality original materials for every technical certification under the sun. Braindumps don't have such problems, however. Any test for which they can get questions and answers will appear on the site. If you see huge lists of certifications offered, your "cheater" radar should be beeping.
If you're not sure whether a test prep Web site is a braindump or not, there's a good site that can help. It's called CertGuard, and it tracks known braindumps. You can enter the URL of a site into a search window on CertGuard, and it will provide an answer on whether or not you've visited a braindump. It also maintains a list of "known good sites." It doesn't appear that CertGuard is updated that often anymore, so some of the information may be outdated.
If you need assistance, e-mail me or ask a question in the forum. Both resources are here to help.