Summary

Cameron Malin (LinkedIn) joins Andrew (X; LinkedIn) to discuss cyber and behavioral profiling. Cameron was the creator and founder of the FBI’s Cyber Behavioral Analysis Center. 

What You’ll Learn

Intelligence

• The historical origins of behavioral profiling
• Applying behavioral profiling to counterintelligence and cyber threats
• Nature vs. Nurture in criminal behavior
• The future of deception and cyberwarfare 

Reflections

• The complexity of the human mind
• Threat evolution

And much, much more …

Quotes of the Week

“We need to think about cybersecurity as not just hacking and malware and the obvious tangible or known weapons that are used, it includes mental malware … Deep fakes and disinformation, things that can cause erroneous decision making that are just as powerful.” – Cameron Malin

Resources 

SURFACE SKIM

*SpyCasts*

• The FBI Hostage Negotiator with Chris Voss (2024)
• A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 1 with Dr. Ursula Wilder (2024)
• A CIA Psychologist on the Minds of World Leaders, Pt. 2 with Dr. Ursula Wilder (2024)
• “How Spies Think” – 10 Lessons in Intelligence with Sir David Omand (2020)

DEEPER DIVE

Books

• Deception in the Digital Age: Exploiting and Defending Human Targets through Computer-Mediated Communications, C. Malin et. al. (Academic Press, 2017)
• Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling, M. Cannell (Minotaur Books, 2017)
• Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, J. Douglas & M. Olshaker (1995) 

Primary Sources 

• Lone Offender Terrorism Report (2019)
• A Study of Pre-Attack Behaviors of Active Shooters in the United States Between 2000 and 2013 (2018)
• FBI Jack the Ripper Profile (1988)
• Criminal Investigation: A Practical Handbook (1907 translation)
• UK Parliamentary Debates (1888)

*Wildcard Resource*

• Mindhunter (2017-2019)
• While not perfectly accurate, this TV show (heavily inspired by the book of the same name, listed above) is a truly excellent watch.