Principal public exposure

Evaluating the level of public information exposure for executives is one of the most important, yet often overlooked steps in ensuring the safety of your company's executives.

Executives typically have high level visibility both inside and outside one's respsective company, making them especially vulnerable to threats from disgruntled employees or shareholders, protestors, hackers, or even clients. As the visible face of the company, executives are at high risk to be targeted by these threats.

The volume of information available to the general public is overwhelming. In addition to the extensive personal information which is often showcased in company communications, SEC filings and displayed on company websites, personal identifying information can be easily discovered by anyone with an Internet connection.

Search engines, including, but not limited to, Bing, Google, Yahoo!, and Yandex can provide intimate and revealing details to their users concerning a wide range of subjects. More detailed information is available through a series of databses, some of which are offered to the general public and others through a subscription or membership. Common social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIN can provide detailed personal and professional information. Companies including Intelius, Private Eye, and Peoplefinders which charge a minimal fee for casual or one-time users, can furnish personal details concerning and individual and his or her extended family.

The availability of public record information is even greater when more sophisticated researchers such as private investigators with access to proprietary databases like TLO, Lexis, and Sterling. In these cases even the most intimate details of a person's private life can be identified and obtained.

Using illegal means, hackers may have the ability to access highly confidential information including personal credit reports, bank accounts, credit card numbers, and income tax returns. Hackers often scan financial publications looking for names of CEOs and top executives from major corporations. They can spend weeks combing over online data in an attempt to piece together the personal information of a deep-pocketed target. Of all levels of research described herein, hackers conceivably pose the greatest risk to the exposure of an individual's personal information and a threat to one's security and risk.

The first step in conducting a comprehensive threat assessment is to identify exactly what information is available to the public and to more experienced researchers or investigators. At MSAI, our investigators have years of experience in locating and identifying publicly available information that may put your executive at risk.

For additional information, or to set up a free confidential consultation, please contact Frank Sinacori, Manager of Investigations and Executive Protection Services.

Cristina Vasile is a Senior Investigative Analyst at MSA Investigations. Email Cristina for more information about MSAI's investigative services.

source: MSA investigations