🛡️"> Skip to main content
Home Check a message Training Newsletter Contact
Meet the founder

40 years protecting people from exactly this.

"After 40 years in information security, I've seen every trick scammers use. I built ProtectMyCircle so your family doesn't have to figure it out alone." — Garland A. Hurt, Founder
Garland A. Hurt — Founder of ProtectMyCircle
Garland A. Hurt
Information Security Officer · Medina, TN
Experience
40+ years in Information Technology & Security
Education
Master's Degree in Information Technology
Current role
Information Security Officer — Banking & Financial Technology
My story

Why I built ProtectMyCircle

Over four decades working in information technology and security, I have watched scammers become increasingly sophisticated. What started as obvious email scams has evolved into highly targeted, psychologically manipulative attacks that fool even tech-savvy people.

But the people I worry about most aren't IT professionals — they're older adults, retirees, and everyday families who just want to know if that strange email from "Medicare" is real or not. They shouldn't need a cybersecurity degree to protect themselves.

I built ProtectMyCircle because I know what these scams look like from the inside. Every warning sign our AI checks for, every lesson in our training center, every piece of advice on this site — it comes from real-world experience protecting real organizations from the same tactics criminals use against your family.

This is personal to me. I've seen what happens when someone loses their savings or their identity to a scammer. ProtectMyCircle is my way of making sure that doesn't happen to yours.

Certifications & credentials

Qualified to protect what matters most

CompTIA Network+
Networking fundamentals, infrastructure & security
CompTIA A+
IT hardware, software & troubleshooting
MCSE
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
MCP
Microsoft Certified Professional
CBCSM
Certified Banking Cyber Security Manager
Master's in IT
Graduate degree in Information Technology
"After 40 years in information security, I've seen every trick scammers use. I built ProtectMyCircle so your family doesn't have to figure it out alone."
Garland A. Hurt
Garland A. Hurt
Founder, ProtectMyCircle · Information Security Officer · Medina, TN

Ready to protect your family?

Try the free scam checker right now — no account needed. Or take our free training and learn to spot every type of scam yourself.