In December 2024, the tragic killing of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson sent shockwaves through corporate America. And suddenly, preventing executive digital exposure didn’t seem so silly anymore.
Investigators later linked the attack to publicly available personal details; the killer knew the exact route and door the CEO would be using—aka his travel patterns.
This incident underscored a chilling reality: Executives are prime targets for digital and physical threats, and their digital footprints can have real-world consequences.
But here’s the good news: Top leaders aren’t waiting to become cautionary tales anymore.
They’re adopting proactive privacy strategies to minimize exposure, outsmart threat actors, and safeguard their families, reputations, and businesses.
Let’s explore how they’re doing it—and what your organization can learn from their playbook.
Why executives can’t afford to ignore their digital shadows
Imagine this: A fake LinkedIn profile mimicking your CEO convinces an employee to wire $500,000 to a fraudulent account. Or a hacker uses leaked credentials from the dark web to access sensitive corporate systems.
These aren’t hypotheticals—they’re daily risks for high-profile leaders.
- Cyberattacks: 72% of US senior executives have been targeted at least once by a cyberattack over 18 months ending in 2024, according to a survey of IT and cybersecurity professionals.
- Physical threats: Exposed home addresses, travel plans, or family details can lead to stalking or violence.
- Reputational damage: Leaked emails or deepfake videos can tank stock prices and public trust. I’d also add the possibility of costing your company millions of dollars within one conversation. (More on this later when I talk about deepfake attacks.)
Reactive vs. proactive: A critical comparison
Most companies rely on traditional cybersecurity tools (firewalls, antivirus software). But as threats evolve, these reactive measures fall short.
Here’s the big difference:
Reactive approach
- Responds to breaches after they occur
- Focuses on corporate systems
- Limited dark web monitoring
- Generic employee training
- Siloed physical/digital security
Proactive approach
- Prevents exposure before it’s exploited
- Protects executives’ personal and professional data
- 24/7 surveillance of the deep/dark web for leaks
- Tailored social engineering simulations for leadership
- Integrated threat intelligence and executive protection teams
Proactive strategies close gaps that firewalls can’t touch—like a CFO’s leaked credit card details on a dark web forum.
How executives are shrinking their digital footprints
It’s not all bad; there are ways to protect yourself.
Here are some options:
Audit everything (yes, everything)
The first step?
Conduct a sweeping digital exposure audit.
This isn’t just a Google search—it’s a deep dive into:
- Surface web: Public records, data brokers (e.g., TruePeopleSearch.com), and social media.
- Dark web: Leaked credentials, financial data, and blueprints for private jets/yachts.
- Family/associates: A teenager’s geotagged Instagram post could reveal an executive’s vacation home.
One digital audit can uncover 2500+ vulnerabilities online. To get started with a full and free online audit that shows you exactly what others find when they look you up online, click here.
Partner with digital risk-protection services
Executive Privacy offers exclusive executive privacy concierge services with tailor-made monitoring.
- Scan the dark web for any visible personal information.
- Flag leaked credentials and social mentions in online bad-actor marketplaces.
- Alert teams to hostile chatter (e.g., “I’m coming to your house” threats).
Automated tools like Concierge Digital Security provide real-time identity defense, threat intelligence, financial safeguards, and, of course, a privacy concierge that monitors proactively alongside innovative AI protocols.
Erase what you can, lock down the rest
Top executives are taking proactive steps to reduce visibility:
- Opt out of data brokers: Services like ExecutivePrivacy scrub home addresses and phone numbers from public databases.
- Tighten social media settings: No more vacation photos or location check-ins.
- Update financial accounts: After a breach, replace compromised credit cards immediately.
Bonus: Some even use alias emails/phone numbers for public-facing profiles to avoid phishing traps.
Train like you’re in a spy thriller
Phishing tests? Too basic. Leaders now undergo advanced simulations, including:
- Deepfake detection: Spotting AI-generated voice clones or video scams.
- Travel security training: Secure communication apps, evasion routes, and emergency protocols.
- Family education: Teaching kids to avoid oversharing on TikTok or Roblox.
Case in point: A financial employee with a multinational firm handed over 200 million Hong Kong dollars (the equivalent of $25.6 million) in a deepfake scam in which the criminal was impersonating the worker’s CFO.
Merge digital and physical security
Elite protection teams don’t just guard doors—they monitor external digital risks like:
- Travel tracking: Removing private jet details from flight-tracking websites.
- Sentiment analysis: Scanning social media for hostile rhetoric targeting the CEO.
- Incident response plans: Coordinating with law enforcement if doxxing occurs.
Seems like James Bond stuff, right?
But when you hold the details to multi-million-dollar deals and keys to a six-figure home, you are a big deal, whether you want to believe it or not.
The bottom line: Privacy = power + protection
As Brian Thompson’s case tragically proved, digital exposure isn’t hypothetical—it can mean the difference between life and death.
Executives who adopt proactive privacy measures and prevent digital exposure aren’t just protecting themselves; they’re shielding their companies from financial loss, legal battles, and reputational freefall.
But more importantly, they are protecting themselves and their family from potential harm.
Final thought
Today, privacy isn’t a luxury—it’s leadership. Whether you’re a CEO or a rising star, ask yourself: What’s lurking in your digital shadow?
Ready to take action? Start by speaking with an executive privacy concierge expert and keep yourself safe from the digital and physical threats you don’t see coming.
This post was contributed by Rockey Simmons, founder of SaaS Marketing Growth.