Lizzie Clark

Threats to Business Executives from the Dark Web

In this blog we dive into the subject of executive threats and how business leaders and high profile employees may be at threat from the dark web.

Are business executives prepared for dark web threats?

There’s no doubt that in many organizations cybersecurity professionals have a proactive approach to cybersecurity, protecting their infrastructure from cybercriminals and threats from the dark web. With estimates that the cost of cybercrime to the global economy may range from $375 billion to $575 billion per year, cybersecurity is rightly a big focus. But, what about physical and cyber threats to business executives and high profile individuals?

In a 2024 report by GetApp, they found 72 percent of senior executives had been targeted at least once by a cyberattack in the previous 18 months. For executives handling sensitive company data, financial transactions, and strategic decision making, being prepared and understanding cyber and physical threats from the dark web is crucial not only to their safety but the security of the organization.

So, why are business executives at threat from attacks from the dark web? In this blog we explore the increasing need for security for business executives and how mentions of them can be monitored on the dark web.

What is an executive threat?

Executive threat is a term for executives being targeted by cybercriminals both on and offline. However, it can take many different forms and be driven by very different motives, including (but not limited to):

  • Fraud – Gathering enough information and data on an executive in order to assume their identity.
  • Extortion – Gathering sensitive information on an executive to blackmail them.
  • Espionage – Hacking executive accounts in order to access commercially valuable data or intellectual property.
  • Reputational damage – impersonating executives or publishing sensitive information with the intention of damaging their reputation or tarnishing the organization’s brand.

One of the biggest concerns for executives is being targeted by criminals who want to cause them physical harm. As we’ve seen recently, this is an all too real threat for high-profile business leaders. In December 2024, UnitedHealthcare boss Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in New York, with police saying Thompson was targeted in a pre-planned killing.

Unfortunately, this was not a stand alone incident. In a world where people and organizations are connected all the time, it’s easier to obtain information about executives’ identities and locations, while social media has increased the hostility directed at these corporate leaders.

How are business executives targeted by activity on the dark web?

There are many ways in which business executives and high profile leaders can be targeted by criminals on the dark web, including:

Leaked data and credentials

Business executives are key targets for cybercriminals because often they will have full access to sensitive corporate data and information and financial systems. Cybercriminals will gather credentials through data breaches following an organization being hacked. This can lead to emails, passwords, and financial records for sale or for trade on dark web marketplaces where cybercriminals can use the information in phishing or spear-phishing attacks to trick colleagues or business partners into revealing critical business information.

Doxxing attacks

“Doxxing” is the practice of exposing private information, such as home addresses, phone numbers, details of family members, banking information or financial records on the dark web. Business executives and leaders are sometimes doxxed as a form of blackmail or intimidation.

Cybercriminals can also create and post fake narratives, AI or deepfake videos, and misleading financial documents to damage the reputation of a business executive. These cybercriminals may include activists or competitors using these attacks as a way to disrupt the organization or influence stock prices. The dark web is also host to forums that encourage users to dig up damaging information on executives to enable doxxing attacks.

Insider threats and corporate espionage

The dark web is used by disgruntled employees and other cybercriminals for insider threats and corporate espionage. Dark web users will trade sensitive business information including leaked financial reports, merger plans, intellectual property, or stolen internal communications, which can be used to damage business executive reputations, sell access to email accounts, and manipulate markets.

Physical threats

We have discussed how business executives and high profile leaders may be targeted online, but there are real-world dangers to these people.

We have already discussed high profile threats to life and killings business executives have faced, but other physical threats can include:

  • Swatting – A harassment tactic which includes fake emergency calls being made and emergency services being dispatched to an executives home.
  • Surveillance and stalking – Threat actors selling information on the dark web about an executive’s travel plans, whereabouts, security measures. This information could also include an executive’s family and friends.
  • Physical extortion – This will include business leaders being threatened with physical violence unless a ransom is paid to the threat actor.

While all of these threats may be overwhelming for business executives, there are ways in which executives and their teams can be protected and identify the early warning signs.

How to monitor threats to business executives

While traditional cybersecurity solutions provide an element of protection for the network, by
their nature they are reactive to an incident and rely on the identification of suspicious or malicious activity inside the network perimeter. By utilizing dark web monitoring capabilities, organizations are able to extend their visibility beyond their network and into the conversations and discussions happening within the criminal underground.

Understand your dark web risk exposure

Get a health report of your organization’s exposure on the dark web, along with context and guidance on the actions you need to take to prevent malicious activity.

Continually monitor for specific threats against business executives

Create automated alerts on attributes that are specific to your business – including domains, networks, assets, and executive credentials – to cut through the noise and receive intelligence on threats that are likely to directly impact your organization.

Prevent data breaches

Stop business executive’s credentials from being breached and leaked in the first place by identifying the early warning signs of an attack – such as company IP addresses, open ports, and compromised devices for sale on the dark web, or dark web traffic to and from the company network.

Threat Intelligence and investigation

Enhance your threat intelligence and threat monitoring capabilities with an unmatched window into activity on dark web forums, marketplaces and conversations, without any risk to your analysts.

Incident investigation and response

Forensically examine the chain of events on the dark web that led to an attack or data breach to inform incident mitigation and response.

Stop executive threats in their track

Business executives should not feel their safety (whether online or offline) is at risk because of their job or the industry they work in, and measures should be taken to minimize these threats. By utilizing dark web monitoring capabilities, organizations are able to extend their visibility beyond their network and into the conversations and discussions happening within the criminal underground and encrypted communication channels to protect their employees.

Want to learn more about executive threats and how dark web monitoring can protect your organization’s leadership? DOWNLOAD AND READ our “Executives under threat” report.