Top managers are an attractive target for hackers and cyber spies, according to a study by Cyberwolf.
A study by Cyberwolf shows that 70 percent of CEOs of BEL20 companies are easily targeted by cybercriminals. Researchers monitored the digital exposure of these CEOs for three months. This reveals that personal digital habits and secondary functions are particularly vulnerable areas.
Personal networks
Top managers remain an attractive target for hackers and cyber spies. According to a recent study by Cyberwolf, CEOs of the twenty largest Belgian listed companies face significant risks. The company examined the digital exposure of these executives for three months. It shows that 70 percent of them are easily approachable through publicly visible vulnerabilities in their own organization or through other mandates they hold.
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When vulnerabilities of affiliated organizations such as charities or sector-related networks are included, this figure even rises to 95 percent. Furthermore, it appears that for 80 percent of the CEOs studied, a credible deepfake of their voice can be created within five minutes. Cyberwolf shared its findings with the organizations involved and the Centre for Cyber Security Belgium (CCB).
Double standards
Despite the risks, many top managers still have limited awareness of their personal role in the security of their organization. Board members regularly request exceptions to security protocols, while cybersecurity remains a top priority on paper. This is also confirmed by international research from Accenture: 90 percent of the CEOs surveyed expect a serious cyber threat within two years, but 95 percent admit that their cyber strategy is mainly driven by regulations.
Cyberwolf calls for more responsibility from business leaders. According to them, security starts with personal digital hygiene, even in the private sphere. The organization advocates for a multidimensional approach, where families and external partners are also protected.
Although many CIOs have clear solutions according to Cyberwolf, there is often a lack of alignment with the boardroom. Bridging this gap is essential to strengthen the digital resilience of companies, according to the report.