Why 2025 Is the Year to Invest in Executive Security — Not Cut Costs

As we enter Q2, executives face a stark reality: 2025 will be defined by economic turbulence, rising cyber threats, and an increasingly hostile global environment. While many companies are scrutinizing budgets and seeking areas to cut costs, reducing security and privacy investments is a dangerous miscalculation.

Rising Threats to Executives and Their Families

Executives are more visible — and more vulnerable — than ever before. On December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in New York City. Just hours later, bomb threats were made on his family's homes in the Minneapolis area. These incidents reflect a disturbing trend: criminals are expanding their targets to include executives' families.

Doxxing: A Digital Weapon with No Legal Barriers

Doxxing — the malicious public exposure of personal information — has become a weapon of choice for extremists targeting high-profile individuals. An estimated 11 million Americans have fallen victim to doxxing, yet no federal laws currently prohibit it. More than 2,500 data brokers legally sell home addresses and other sensitive information to anyone willing to pay.

Harassers exploit this unregulated market, pairing exposed personal details with a leader's potentially controversial stance to incite threats and attacks.

Swatting: Turning Data into Terror

Swatting — fraudulent emergency calls triggering armed police raids — has surged as a weapon against high-profile figures. On March 8, 2025, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's sister was forced into lockdown after a bomb threat targeted her home.

This tactic requires no technical skill — just an easily obtained home address.

A Recession-Proof Investment: Security

Economic downturns create opportunities — not just for resilient businesses but for criminals. When the COVID-19 recession hit in 2020, online crime complaints spiked by nearly 70%, leading to $4.1 billion in losses.

History has shown that companies that proactively invest in security during downturns emerge stronger. Security is not an overhead expense — it's an essential investment in business continuity and leadership resilience.

Proactive Steps for 2025

• Remove Personal Exposure — Conduct regular audits to eliminate executives' private information from public sources
• Monitor for Impersonation — Proactively detect and shut down fraudulent executive profiles before they cause damage
• Secure Communications — Implement encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect sensitive data
• Extend Protection to Families — Criminals increasingly target loved ones to apply pressure. Family security is now corporate security
• Partner with Security Experts — Proactive digital footprint management can prevent breaches before they escalate

Security is no longer just about IT — it is a fundamental business risk. Cutting costs in security is not an option.