Security Threats Don't Stop at the Office: Why Executives' Families Need Training, Too
Dark Reading, Friday, October 9th, 2026
Attackers increasingly reach executives through spouses, children and home networks, so families need security training too.
Attackers blocked by an executive's MFA often go after family members' devices, social media accounts and home networks instead, using impersonation, compromised household devices and phishing or smishing of less technical relatives, while leaked itineraries can lead to physical threats or extortion.
Ponemon and BlackCloak research found that 51% of organizations reported attacks on their leaders in 2025, up from 43% in 2023, and 39% of newly onboarded executives already had compromised devices.
The article argues that protection programs should cover the people executives live with, including privacy settings and home network hygiene.