Why cutting security budgets in 2025 is the biggest mistake executives can make—and how to stay ahead of emerging threats.

By Mykolas Rambus, CEO, Hush

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. The threats to executives are escalating, and failing to act now could have lasting consequences for both corporate and personal security.

Rising Threats to Executives and Their Families

Executives are more visible—and more vulnerable—than ever before. The risk of physical harm has escalated, with high-profile leaders increasingly becoming targets of violent attacks. 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 - leading to a terrifying lockdown by law enforcement. 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. Making matters worse, more than 2,500 data brokers legally sell home addresses and other sensitive information to anyone willing to pay, and again, these businesses operate without federal oversight.

Harassers exploit this unregulated market, pairing exposed personal details with a leader’s potentially controversial stance to incite threats and attacks. Corporate executives, government officials, and public figures have all been targeted, with their home addresses, emails, and family connections readily available on the open web. While doxxing campaigns are often short-lived—social platforms may suspend accounts involved—the damage can be lasting. Victims frequently suffer financial losses, reputational harm, mental health struggles, and, most alarmingly, serious physical safety risks.

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. That same week, multiple conservative media personalities reported being swatted. Days later, FBI Director Kash Patel announced an investigation into the rise of these incidents.

This tactic requires no technical skill—just an easily obtained home address. Beyond fear and disruption, swatting poses a lethal risk, as law enforcement storms homes under false pretenses, sometimes with deadly consequences.

The Escalation of Physical Threats

Executives today face a stark new reality: targeted killings are no longer unthinkable. The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a watershed moment, proving that executives can be physically targeted for their decisions, affiliations, or perceived political leanings. Worse, a well-timed smear campaign—amplified by doxxing—can turn a business leader into a public enemy overnight.

Thompson’s alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, has been embraced by some as a vigilante, with his defense fund raising over $740,000 as of March 18. The message is clear: for certain groups, executive assassinations aren’t just justified—they’re crowdfundable.

The Need for a New Standard of Security

As these threats continue to evolve, it’s clear that traditional corporate security measures are no longer enough. Protecting executives alone leaves their families exposed, and failing to remove sensitive personal information from the open web leaves them vulnerable to doxxing, swatting, and worse. In this new era, digital footprint management is not just a precaution—it’s a necessity for survival.

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. As financial pressures mount in 2025, executives will become even more attractive targets.

Yet, history has shown that companies that proactively invest in security during downturns emerge stronger. Prioritizing executive protection today mitigates costly risks down the line. Security is not an overhead expense—it’s an essential investment in business continuity and leadership resilience.

Why Cutting Security Budgets Is a Mistake

Corporate security is often viewed as discretionary, but reducing these budgets at a time of heightened risk is a critical error. Executives must ask themselves:

• How exposed is my personal information online?

• Could someone impersonate me to defraud my company?

• Are my family members adequately protected?

• Are security gaps leaving my company vulnerable to insider fraud?

  
  

If any of these questions raise concerns, now is the time to act. Security threats are not hypothetical; they are already happening at scale, and companies that fail to prepare will pay the price.

Proactive Steps for 2025

To safeguard executives and their organizations, companies must take a strategic approach to security:

1. Remove Personal Exposure – Conduct regular audits to eliminate executives’ private information from public sources.

2. Monitor for Impersonation – Proactively detect and shut down fraudulent executive profiles before they cause damage.

3. Secure Communications – Implement encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect sensitive data.

4. Extend Protection to Families – Criminals increasingly target loved ones to apply pressure—family security is now corporate security.

5. Partner with Security Experts – Proactive digital footprint management can prevent breaches before they escalate.

   
   

The Bottom Line

Security is no longer just about IT—it is a fundamental business risk. CEOs and executives cannot afford to be complacent. The threats of 2025 demand action, and organizations that prioritize security today will be the ones that thrive in an unpredictable future.

Cutting costs in security is not an option. Protect your leadership, your business, and your future—before the risks become reality.

Sources

Doxxing Statistics in 2024: 11 Million Americans Have Been Victimized

Luigi Mangione Official Defense Fund