Welcome to the CyBUrGuy Substack

(I know, what the heck am I thinking)

If you actually made it to this page and are still reading, THANK YOU. I wanted to take this first post to give my vision for this page and level set expectations.

Chances are you made it here because you already know me from LinkedIn (and maybe less so from Instagram, Facebook, or X.) Or maybe you are a listener to one of my podcasts, “The CyBUR Guy” or “The CyBUr Smart Morning News Update” (if you did, then a double THANK YOU to you!)

Just as a recap, my name is Darren Mott and I am a retired FBI Special Agent and one of the original Cybercrime focused Special Agents on one of the original National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) Squads that ultimately became the FBI’s Cyber Squads (the sad thing is whoever came up with the NIPC name probably became a Special Agent in Charge at some point - but that is for another post). Prior to becoming an FBI SA, I was a HS Science Teacher (I know, you are thinking; “How does THAT happen? - That is another post also). I am using this space, and the other platforms I am on, to raise awareness of cybercrime, cyberespionage, and cyberwhatever matters. Ideally, so you, a business owner or individual, never have to become a cyber victim and NEED to call the FBI or law enforcement for help. Because unless you are a victim of substantial loss, the cavalry probably isn’t coming (again, another post.)

So why am I venturing on substack? A question I am asking myself because I have a lot of irons in a lot of fires. But I am committed to helping as many people as I can get a better understanding of this crazy thing we call cyber. And the social media platforms have character limitations, so I have to be judicious in my writing there. Here I can be more long-form, add more humor, and expand on stuff I can’t on LinkedIn. And to be honest, my best stuff starts on LinkedIn. I try to push stuff to the Meta platforms, but I find they just don’t work as well, and I already have a pretty good following on LinkedIn. I’ll keep trying on the Meta platforms but I admit I suck at them. If anyone wants to help me with that, maybe we can barter…..

I am not a journalist by trade, so most of my posts will be free-wheeling. There may or may not be references (it will depend on my motivation), but I will try to make these entertaining and educational. They will also probably be full or grammatical and spelling mistakes. Part of the charm I dare say!

Before I sign off on this initial post, let me answer they question you are probably asking; “Why CyBUr? Can’t you spell?” Well that is a branding ploy. When you are in the FBI the phone they give you is your BU-phone, the car is your BU-ride, etc.. (BU is shorthand for BUREAU as in Federal Bureau of Investigation). I know..smart move right?!?!

SO hopefully you’ll find this page interesting, entertaining, and educational. Because if you get a little CyBU Smarter, you get a whole lot CyBUr safer!

Comments, thoughts, suggestions, criticisms are always welcome. Thanks for making it to the end of this first post. I appreciate you!

Darren