If your phone rings and the number looks unfamiliar, cybersecurity expert Dr. Christopher Whyte has a simple recommendation: treat it as untrustworthy from the very first second. He calls it a “zero trust” approach, and it applies to calls, texts, and those “your package is delayed” notifications that show up out of nowhere. The idea is to never assume you’re safe just because you’ve taken security steps before. Each new contact gets verified on its own.
The reason this matters now is that ransomware attacks are escalating. The Medusa ransomware group has targeted more than 300 major organizations, and the Department of Homeland Security warns this is only the beginning. Whyte’s deepest concern is that some criminals aren’t chasing money at all. They encrypt data and never hand over the key, which could mean a hospital locked out of medication records. Here on the Suncoast, where so many residents are retirees and snowbirds with savings and Medicare information to protect, one wrong click can cause real damage.
The good news is that zero trust is free. Let unknown calls go to voicemail. Delete unexpected delivery texts. Never share passwords, codes, or account numbers with someone who called you. If something feels urgent, hang up and call the company back using a number you look up yourself.
Have you started ignoring unknown numbers, or do you still pick up? Tell us in the comments.
