Near Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire

God’s own country, not God’s waiting room

I am Jon Cosson, an East End boy from Hackney Wick. I spent four decades in IT and cyber security leadership. I am an international speaker and blogger, and I chaired a financial industry cyber security committee. I now speak about the history of code-breaking and about staying safe online. These days I live on the edge of the North York Moors, keep five classic cars on the road, and write reference guides that I give away.

This site is a record of retirement taken seriously: an interesting life, a beautiful part of England, and cars driven rather than polished.

More about me

Jon Cosson

What I spend the time on

Speaking

Talks on the history of code-breaking and on staying safe online, at Bletchley Park and further afield: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Washington, Copenhagen, Paris, and all around the UK. The scams talk and the advice that goes with it are under Staying safe.

Five old cars

A Jaguar E-Type Series 1, a Jaguar Mk2 restomod, an MG TF1500, an AC Aceca-Bristol and a Triumph Stag. All of them used, on moor roads, in most weathers.

Writing guides

Reference material on classic cars, on Thornton-le-Dale and on the moors around it. Free to read, with nothing asked in return.

The guides I write and give away

Six classic car archives and two local guides to the villages and moorland of the North York Moors. Each is a plain reference site, written slowly, with sources named and corrections published. None of them sells anything.

What each archive covers