The Cyber Behavioral Profiler with Cameron Malin
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 …
Episode Notes
You’ve watched the movies, you’ve seen the T.V. shows, now it’s time to learn about the real deal – the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. A fascinating sect of the intelligence field, this unit has piqued the interest of people worldwide, eager to learn more about how we understand and analyze the human mind.
Who better to walk us through this world than this week’s guest, Cameron Malin – Creator and founder of the FBI’s Cyber Behavioral Analysis Center. Following his over 20-year career with the FBI, Cameron continued to utilize the skills of behavioral analysis in the private sector, founding the company Modus Cyberandi – a particularly clever name for a truly fascinating line of work. Tune in to learn more!
And…
Cameron’s company Modus Cyberandi is a play on words from the Latin phrase modus operandi, translating approximately to “mode of operating.” In the world of profiling, modus operandi is commonly used to describe a person’s particular habits or means to execute their crime.
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)
*Beginner Resources*
- The Power of Behavior Profiling For Modern Cybersecurity, Hortonworks, YouTube (2019) [7 min. video]
- Why Is Cybersecurity Important? CompTIA (n.d.) [Short article]
- Behavioral Profiling, IDCentral (n.d.) [Short article]
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)
Articles
- The Psychology of Espionage, U. M. Wilder, Studies in Intelligence (2017)
- Unmasking the Mad Bomber, M. Cannell, Smithsonian Magazine (2017)
- Making space for criminalistics: Hans Gross and fin-de-siècle CSI, I. Burney & J. Pemberton, University of Manchester (2013)
- Inside the Mind of the Spy: Agents Struggle in the Shadows, U. M. Wilder, Brookings Institution (2012)
- Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders: a very Victorian critical incident, J. Ogan & L. Alison, Forensic Psychologists Casebook (2005)
Video
- Dr. Thomas Bond's Jack The Ripper Offender Profile, YouTube (2023)
- Former FBI Agent Explains Criminal Profiling, WIRED, YouTube (2019)
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.
