Being Politely Paranoid: A Cybersecurity Necessity 🔍

“Being politely paranoid” is a phrase I love using during awareness training sessions. Why? Because it perfectly captures the essence of an effective cybersecurity strategy: vigilance combined with courtesy. The recent incident at Ferrari, where an executive thwarted a sophisticated attack involving deepfake technology, is a perfect example.

Asking the Right Questions… or Just Asking Questions

Being politely paranoid starts with asking questions. Not just the right questions—but any question that helps you verify a situation. You get a call or message from someone claiming to be from an official organization? Don’t take their word for it. Ask seemingly innocent questions:
“Can you remind me where you’re calling from?”
“What’s the weather like where you are right now?”
These little details can sometimes reveal inconsistencies—and expose an imposter.

The Ferrari Incident: When Paranoia Pays Off

A recent example illustrates this concept beautifully. Earlier this month, a Ferrari executive received unusual messages from someone claiming to be Benedetto Vigna, Ferrari’s CEO. Things became even more suspicious when the impersonator called—likely using AI and/or deepfake technology to mimic Vigna’s voice with stunning accuracy: tone, language, accent—everything seemed to match. But something in the speech felt off.

Sensing this slight inconsistency, the executive decided to ask a test question:
“Sorry, Benedetto, but just to make sure it’s really you—could you remind me of the title of the book you recommended to me a few days ago?”
The imposter, unable to answer, immediately hung up.

This incident is one of the first major known attempts at social engineering using AI/deepfake technology. It highlights the critical importance of staying alert, asking questions, and never taking things at face value—even when everything appears to check out.

Why Being Politely Paranoid Is Crucial

The Ferrari story is a perfect illustration. Staying alert, asking the right questions, and probing situations that seem normal are instincts that can save you from dangerous situations—even against the most advanced technologies.