Feb 25 2025

Securing Peace of Mind: How NetWatch Protects High Net Worth Individuals from Hidden Threats

High Net Worth individuals face growing security threats from digital exposure, but proactive OPSEC assessments and SOCMINT expertise can help mitigate risks before they become liabilities

In today’s digital age, High Net Worth individuals face an ever-growing range of security risks. From cybercriminals exploiting digital breadcrumbs to inadvertent exposure caused by close contacts, threats can emerge from multiple angles.

This was thrown into sharp relief in late 2024 by the assassination of Brian Thompson, CEO of the US health insurance company UnitedHealthcare, who was shot and killed whilst walking to attend an annual investors’ meeting at a New York hotel. The date, time and location of the conference were freely available online prior to the murder, allowing the killer to know exactly where Mr Thompson was likely to be at a specified time.

At NetWatch, we specialise in identifying risks before they become liabilities. Our in-depth Operational Security (OPSEC) reports provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s digital, social and professional exposure, allowing clients to make informed decisions to protect themselves, their families, and their businesses.

Uncovering Hidden Digital Exposure

One of the most overlooked risks in personal security is the unintentional digital footprint someone creates over time, just by using the internet in their daily life. Many people are unaware of how much information is linked to their phone numbers and email addresses across various platforms, and just how much of their life may be strewn across the internet after decades of use.

Our Toolsuite platform can mitigate this exposure. It allows us to uncover hidden accounts tied to an individual’s contact details — accounts that may have been forgotten, compromised, or unknowingly created through third-party services, such as Spotify, Netflix, Disney, Apple, and many major retailers and well known mobile apps.

Whilst the information a malicious actor could extract from these accounts varies, simply the knowledge that one exists could leave someone at increased risk of a spear phishing attack. Even just knowing what mobile provider an individual is contracted to – again, easy to discover if you have access to their number – could allow someone to spoof communications from that provider. Sophisticated actors could offer apparently genuine tickets to events, with the intention of placing someone at a specific location at a specific time.

By identifying these accounts, we can help clients to:

Assess their exposure across multiple platforms
Shut down dormant or unneeded accounts to reduce this exposure
Be alerted to potential risks, such as spear phishing attempts targeting linked email addresses or mobile numbers

The Risk of Unintentional Exposure

Personal security doesn’t exist in isolation. While you may think that you wouldn’t be fooled by a spear phishing scheme, who’s to say that one of your family members, one of your employees, or one of your close friends wouldn’t be?

Not only that, but a housekeeper posting a vacation photo, a child sharing their band practice location, or a business associate checking in at a private event – all these small actions can paint a detailed picture of an individual’s movements, habits, and assets.

Similarly, although many company directors have an accountant’s address linked to them on Companies House, some still have their home address listed. Matching that information up to a public social media account for a target or one of their close contacts could make life extremely easy for a malicious actor seeking to take advantage.

At NetWatch, we take a holistic approach to OPSEC. Our reports don’t just analyse an individual’s own security posture—we map out the broader network of exposure and provide actionable recommendations to reduce risks caused by those closest to them.

Social Media: Why Privacy Settings Aren’t Always Enough

We are leaders in Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT), constantly tracking the latest developments in digital privacy and social media security. One of the biggest misconceptions among High Net Worth individuals is that making social media accounts private means they are fully secure.

In reality, many platforms – especially those with layered privacy settings, like Strava and Facebook – still expose key data even when profiles are supposedly locked down. A private Strava account, for instance, may still reveal running routes that outline a person’s home or frequent locations. Facebook’s myriad of visibility settings can still allow access to seemingly hidden posts.

At NetWatch, we stay ahead of these evolving privacy risks, advising clients on how to properly secure their accounts and understand the limitations of built-in privacy tools. By keeping our clients informed, we help them stay one step ahead of emerging threats.

Proactive Security for Lasting Peace of Mind

Through our advanced Toolsuite platform, deep SOCMINT expertise, and comprehensive OPSEC assessments, we give our clients the ability to see and control their exposure before it becomes a problem.

True peace of mind doesn’t come from hoping you’re secure – it comes from knowing you are.

The Benefits of Choosing NetWatch for Surveillance

When partnering with NetWatch for your open-source intelligence requirements you also gain access to a wide range of more extensive surveillance options.

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