PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL LIFE™
New Study from Ponemon Institute Spotlights the Escalating Threat and Financial Impact of Deepfake Attacks on Businesses and Executives
Key Takeaways:
- A new Ponemon Institute survey of 586 U.S. security practitioners reveals that the most common deepfakes impersonate executives’ trusted entities and urgent demands for payments or information about a detected security breach.
- 54% of respondents said deepfakes are one of the most worrying uses of artificial intelligence (AI). In comparison, 42% said their executives and board members have been targeted at least once by a fake image or video.
- Survey participants identified the serious financial consequences of deepfakes and cybersecurity attacks on the company and executives as the costs for staff to respond to the attack, detect, identify, and remediate the breach, and recover the organization’s reputation.
- Respondents stated that their visibility into erroneous activity is poor, and they have low confidence that an executive could identify a deepfake attack that has targeted or is targeting them.
Orlando, FL – April 22, 2025—Ponemon Institute announced today a new research report, Deepfake Deception: How AI Harms the Fortunes and Reputation of Executives and Corporations. The report exposes the heightening threat of deepfake risks that target vulnerable business leaders and board members and the serious consequences of such attacks.
Sponsored by BlackCloak, a leader in Digital Executive Protection, the study, conducted independently by Ponemon, surveyed 586 security professionals in the U.S. who understand deepfake risks. More than half (54%) of respondents said that deepfakes are a top worry about AI uses, with slightly less (42%) reporting that a fake image or video has targeted their executives and board members. Furthermore, two-thirds (66%) said it is highly likely that a future deepfake will target their executives.
To protect business leaders from this emerging threat, 53% of survey participants said technologies that enable executives to verify the identity and authentication of messages they receive are critical.
“Our new study highlights a few concerning trends,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, Chairman of the Ponemon Institute. “More organizations are experiencing the impact of deepfake threats, an alarming use of AI that many expect to worsen in the months ahead. These attacks impact many aspects of business, and the costs to organizations are potentially significant.
“As personal attacks against executives and their family members increase, organizations are ill-equipped to combat such attacks. To address this issue, they are dedicating more resources to safeguard their leaders and prevent such threats,” he continued. “Most respondents said they will look to technologies that verify a sender’s identity and message authenticity to protect against this costly threat.”
Deepfakes and Personal Cyberattacks Require a Zero-Trust Mindset
The Ponemon study revealed a few crucial themes related to deepfakes and cyberattacks on businesses. Such themes include:
- Deepfake risks are targeting vulnerable board members and executives.
The two types of deepfakes of most significant concern are social impostors (53% of respondents) and financial fraud (37% of respondents). According to 56% of respondents, a zero-trust mindset is essential to distinguish between authentic and fake messages.
- Deepfakes and cybersecurity threats result in serious consequences.
The top two metrics for cyberattacks against executives are the cost of staff time (62% of respondents) and the cost to detect, identify, and remediate the breach (51% of respondents). - As attacks against executives and family members increase, organizations increase resources to prevent cyberattacks against executives.
48% of respondents said their organizations incorporate the risk of cyberthreats against executives in their personal lives, especially high-profile individuals, in their cyber, IT, and physical security strategies and budget. Additionally, 44% of organizations reported having a team dedicated to preventing and/or responding to cyber or privacy attacks against executives and their families. These numbers compare to 42% and 38%, respectively, just two years ago.
“Deepfakes are a growing threat costing businesses huge sums of money,” said Dr. Chris Pierson, Founder and CEO of BlackCloak. “Corporate executives are not typically cybersecurity experts, and are ill-equipped to take necessary steps to safeguard themselves and their families. Fortunately, new tools are coming to market that enable business leaders and their family members to verify the authenticity of messages they receive through all types of communications. These solutions can help stop the rising current of deepfake attacks by breaking the key links in the scam and help companies and their executives protect themselves and the bottom line.”
To download a copy of the Ponemon report, visit https://blackcloak.io/2025-ponemon-report-deepfake-deception/.
About Ponemon Institute
Advancing Responsible Information Management
Ponemon Institute is dedicated to independent research and education that advances responsible information and privacy management practices within business and government. Our mission is to conduct high-quality, empirical studies on critical issues affecting the management and security of sensitive information about people and organizations.
We uphold strict data confidentiality, privacy and ethical research standards. We do not collect any personally identifiable information from individuals (or company identifiable information in our business research). Furthermore, we have strict quality standards to ensure that subjects are not asked extraneous, irrelevant or improper questions. For more information, visit ponemon.org.
About BlackCloak
BlackCloak protects corporate executives and high-profile individuals from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a holistic solution that includes mobile and desktop apps and concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals gain complete peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats from executives without invading their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io and follow us on LinkedIn.
Ponemon Media Contact
Susan Jayson
BlackCloak Honored as Finalist of the 2025 SC Awards
Orlando, FL, April 9, 2025 — BlackCloak is proud to announce that it has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 SC Awards. BlackCloak has been recognized in the Best Customer Service category, underscoring its commitment to excellence and leadership in the cybersecurity industry. The SC Awards, now in its 28th year, recognize the solutions, organizations, and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in advancing the security of information systems.
Find the full list of 2025 finalists on SC Media’s website: www.scworld.com/sc-awards
The 2025 SC Awards entries were evaluated across 33 specialty categories by a distinguished panel of judges, comprised of cybersecurity professionals, industry leaders, and members of the CyberRisk Alliance CISO community, representing sectors such as healthcare, financial services, education, and technology.
“From the rise of generative AI attacks to breaches exploiting third-party access and non-human credentials, the past year has reminded us that cybersecurity needs to be about innovations that help enterprises pivot, adapt, and thrive in a threat landscape that changes by the hour,” said Tom Spring, Senior Editorial Director, SC Media.
“Being named an SC Awards finalist is a recognition not only of technical innovation, but of a shared commitment to making the digital world safer,” Spring said. “It’s inspiring to see how this year’s community of finalists—across identity, cloud, data protection, and beyond—is pushing forward together, united by purpose.”
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by such a prestigious award, particularly for delivering outstanding service and cybersecurity and privacy expertise to our customers,” said Ingrid Gliottone, Chief Experience Officer for BlackCloak. “Our goal is to help companies protect their executives’ digital personal lives, and provide peace of mind to high-profile and high-net-worth individuals, through 24/7 white-glove concierge security services that safeguard our clients and their families from online threats. This award validates our continuous commitment to achieving this goal.”
Throughout the month, SC Media’s editorial team will feature in-depth coverage of each finalist on SC Media’s website at www.scworld.com/sc-awards, along with promoting finalists across SC Media’s social media channels on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About CyberRisk Alliance (CRA)
CyberRisk Alliance provides business intelligence that helps the cybersecurity ecosystem connect, share knowledge, accelerate careers, and make smarter and faster decisions. Through our trusted information brands, network of experts, and more than 250 innovative annual events we provide cybersecurity professionals with actionable insights and act as a powerful extension of cybersecurity marketing teams. Our brands include SC Media, the Official Cybersecurity Summits, Security Weekly, InfoSec World, Identiverse, CyberRisk Collaborative, ChannelE2E, MSSP Alert, LaunchTech Communications, TECHEXPO Top Secret and CyberRisk TV.
Learn more at www.cyberriskalliance.com.
About BlackCloak
BlackCloak protects corporate executives and high-profile individuals from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a holistic solution that includes mobile and desktop apps and concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals gain complete peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats from executives without invading their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Mike Sias
[email protected]
Digital Executive Protection: A Critical Imperative for Modern Leadership - Dr. Chris Pierson Sets the Stage at RSAC 2025
Orlando, FL – April 1, 2025 – BlackCloak, the pioneer in Digital Executive Protection for executive leaders, board members, and their families as well as family offices and high-net-worth individuals, announces that its Founder and CEO, Dr. Chris Pierson, will open the RSAC 2025 Personal Cybersecurity track with his session “Protecting What Matters Most – Your Family & Home” to highlight the dangers faced by corporations from the exposure presented by executives in their personal digital life.
As a respected voice in cybersecurity and privacy, and often tapped to provide his opinion on news channels such as The New York Times, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, CNBC, Schwab Network, and more, Dr. Pierson brings decades of expertise and unmatched insights to this year’s event, promising interactive discussions and actionable solutions for those attending each of the sessions.
“As a two-time CISO, Chris saw a major gap in an organization’s ability to protect itself from the vulnerabilities introduced by executives’ personal digital lives and his answer was to launch BlackCloak. He is not only a cybersecurity and privacy expert but an innovator and thought leader who provides succinct and actionable insights to the cybersecurity community,” said Tracey Moon, Chief Marketing Officer for BlackCloak. “His sessions at RSAC 2025 offer attendees a rare and unique opportunity to interact with Chris, gaining access to his technical expertise and strategic foresight in two different but important areas: their personal digital lives and critical infrastructure.”
Session1: Protecting What Matters—Your Family & Home
The session will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025 between 8:30 AM and 9:20 AM PT.
It will address an often-overlooked dimension of cybersecurity: the vulnerabilities that reach beyond the corporate perimeter and into an executive’s home. Dr. Pierson will discuss the risks posed by smart home technology, identity theft, and digital scams, while providing attendees with real-world examples and actionable steps to mitigate these threats. Participants will leave equipped with strategies to extend cybersecurity protections to their families and homes. The session is sponsored by The Aspen Institute.
Dr. Pierson will also lead a second session, focused on the global supply chain.
Session 2: When Things Go Boom! Your Supply Chain Risk
This interactive Learning Lab will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM PT and will be co-presented with James Shreve, a partner with Troutman Pepper Locke LLP. Dr. Pierson and Shreve will take a deep dive into the ever-growing risks associated with global supply chains. With every business relying on third-party suppliers, understanding and mitigating these risks is critical. This session will allow participants to collaborate in teams, exploring innovative approaches to assessing suppliers, reducing vulnerabilities, and achieving business goals—all while bolstering cybersecurity defenses.
Why Dr. Chris Pierson Stands Out
With a career that spans legal, technological, and corporate cybersecurity leadership, Dr. Pierson has been at the forefront of defending against digital threats. His professional journey includes serving as CISO for financial technology firms, Chief Privacy Officer for the U.S. operations of the Royal Bank of Scotland, and a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Subcommittee and Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee. As the founder of BlackCloak, Dr. Pierson’s vision focuses on protecting the personal digital lives of executives, high-net-worth individuals, and their families.
Dr. Pierson’s career has been defined by a dedication to advancing the field of cybersecurity and privacy. He has testified before Congress, contributed to pivotal industry standards, and advised government agencies on critical infrastructure and emerging threats. As a practitioner, legal expert, and founder of a pioneering cybersecurity company focused on protecting the personal digital lives of high profile individuals, his insights bridge the gap between theory and practical implementation.
To register to attend Dr. Chris Pierson’s RSAC sessions, visit https://path.rsaconference.com/flow/rsac/us25/FullAgenda/page/catalog?search=%22Chris%20Pierson%22&tab.sessioncatalogdisplay=1731537628897001a5i1.
About BlackCloak
BlackCloak protects corporate executives and high-profile individuals from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a holistic solution that includes mobile and desktop apps and concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals gain complete peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats from executives without invading their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Media Contact:
Mike Sias
[email protected]