Lindsay P

These executive privacy best practices and strategies can keep VIPs and their family members safe from online and in-person harm.

Today, the digital landscape is constantly changing and evolving, making executive privacy more important than ever before. Corporate leaders should be able to focus on moving their companies forward instead of warding off online threats and real-life physical threats.

In order to protect against cyberattacks, identity theft, reputation damage, and public scrutiny, high-profile corporate executives need to embrace a number of security measures. This is the only way for execs to keep themselves, their companies and their families safe.

To speak with an expert about online privacy, executive protection and protecting your data, call us today at 866-601-6803 .

4 Digital Security Measures for Executive Privacy

Execs have access to a lot of high-level information, making their digital security extremely important. Here are four digital security measures that are necessary for maintaining executive privacy.

Encrypted Communication

Encrypted email, messaging apps and video calls encode the information that’s shared in a way that only authorized individuals can access the data. Encryption prevents hackers from intercepting and decoding the information.

Device Security

It’s important to secure business and personal devices, like phones, laptops and tablets, with biometrics and strong passwords. There are various types of biometrics that identify an individual’s identity and grant access to the device, such as facial, fingerprint and voice recognition.

Network Security

Using VPNs and secure networks protects your online activity, particularly when traveling. Network security biometrics are often used to control access and include iris or voice recognition, hand geometry technology, and even behavioral biometrics that analyze typing and mouse-use patterns.

Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) ensures that only approved people can securely access certain accounts and devices. This executive protection method requires a person to identify themselves in two different ways before gaining access to an account.

You can speak with an expert in online privacy and executive protection today by calling 866-601-6803 .

3 Ways To Limit Public Exposure

Limiting how much information the public can access about you and your personal life is a cornerstone of executive privacy. These three best practices will keep your most sensitive personal information safe.

Media Relations

It’s necessary to control the media’s narrative by using strategic PR tactics and limiting the information you share in interviews and press releases. There’s a delicate balancing act that executives have to perform in order to be visible enough to instill trust in the public while still protecting their personal information and private lives.

Private Travel Plans

It’s always smart for high-profile executives to keep travel plans confidential for the sake of executive protection. Professional VIPs are often targets for real-life physical threats like kidnapping and stalking, which makes it crucial to have discreet travel plans. Additionally, when an executive travels and the public knows they’re not home, their house can become the target of theft or vandalism. 

Social Media Management

Executives should consistently manage how much of their sensitive personal information is shared on public platforms. While a public presence is often integral for business success, exposing too much personal or sensitive information can lead to identity theft, harassment or other security issues. It’s best to avoid sharing information related to daily routines, family members, and location.

To discuss your online reputation and security with an executive protection expert, give us a call at 866-601-6803 today.

2 Important Legal Protections

Knowing how your data is protected legally can give you options should that privacy be breached.

Data Privacy Laws

Data privacy laws, such as CCPA and GDPR, outline what type of information can be collected and how it’s used, including financial details, personal identification and sensitive corporate data. Understanding these laws makes it easier for executives to exercise control over their data and request removal when it’s being used inappropriately.

Non-Disclosure Agreements for Executive Protection

By using a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in business dealings and discussions, you ensure legal protection against your sensitive information being shared. NDAs make it illegal for an employee, business partner or third party to disclose information without your consent.

3 Physical Security Measures

Physical security can be even more important than digital security, especially when it comes to your family and home life. These in-person executive protection services and strategies can keep you safe from physical threats.

Anonymous Real Estate Transactions

It’s common for high-profile executives to purchase real estate anonymously. By using an LLC or a trust to make the purchase, the executive’s name and other personal information are kept off of public records. Preventing the public from knowing details about your property ownership keeps you more protected against stalking, threats and unwanted attention.

Personal Security Personnel

Some executives feel it’s important to hire bodyguards or other personal security personnel for executive protection purposes. This sort of customized and proactive approach to personal security allows the executive to have better control over who has access to them, their surroundings, and even their modes of transportation.

Secure Home and Office

Physical security measures should be used to keep your home and workplace secure, such as:

• Having a 24/7 security team at your office
• Installing alarm and surveillance systems
• Living in a gated community
• Restricting access via keyless entry and smart locks
• Tracking visitors via strict check-in procedures

Home and office security measures allow the executive to focus on their personal and professional responsibilities instead of worrying about their safety.

FAQ About Executive Privacy Best Practices

What are the most important strategies for executive privacy?

The most important executive protection strategies are:

• Using encrypted communication and messaging tools
• Setting up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
• Minimizing the personal information that’s shared on social media platforms
• Regularly updating devices, software and systems

However, while these are often the most crucial steps to take first and protect against online threats, privacy consultants will use a host of executive protection strategies customized to the client.

How can an executive protect themselves from cyber attacks?

Executives can protect themselves from cyber attacks and cyber threats by using strong passwords, only using secure WiFi networks, updating software, and monitoring their online accounts daily.

How does social media affect executive privacy?

Social media accounts can pose a big risk to executive privacy because it’s so easy for the public to access personal details about the VIP. Executives should keep separate personal and professional accounts to have better control over what information is shared with different audiences. 

Final Thoughts

Privacy concerns are constantly evolving, and executives need to stay on top of industry changes and executive protection best practices to maintain their privacy and safety. Every aspect of a security plan has to be addressed, including data protection online, in-person safety, and legal compliance.

We can help you create a strategy for keeping your data safe online and protecting your online reputation.

Contact us today at 866-601-6803 to speak with an executive protection expert.

Corporate reputation management is a catch-all term for everything that goes into monitoring and building a company’s public image. By maintaining a company’s image, you have better control over the spread of information and how the brand’s public identity affects business value.

However, when a crisis situation arises, even a well-honed and positive public image can be quickly ruined. 

In this article, we’ll discuss how PR crises affect corporate reputation management and best practices for managing corporate reputation during a crisis.

For immediate help with corporate reputation management, contact us today at 866-601-6803 .

Understanding Corporate Reputation Management Crises

A corporate crisis is a situation that can lead to significant financial, operational or reputational damage — or a combination of them. These include:

• Data breaches
• Financial trouble
• Loss of staff
• Product recalls
• Scandals

A corporate crisis can quickly erode the public’s trust in the company and damage the brand’s corporate reputation.

Real-Life Examples of Corporate Reputation Crises

The best way to understand the true impact of a PR crisis on corporate reputation is to look at real-life examples. 

Account Fraud at Wells Fargo

In September 2016, several employees of Wells Fargo created fake accounts in an effort to reach sales targets. Initially, Wells Fargo blamed the low-level employees instead of taking responsibility and being accountable for the company.

Eventually, as the true depth of the account fraud emerged, executive leadership did claim responsibility and CEO Tim Sloan stepped down. However, it took far too long for this to happen, leading to reputational damage for the company.

Regardless of the individuals involved in a company scandal, leadership should always take responsibility. This allows the company to take control from the beginning and maintain the trust it has built with investors and customers.

Facebook’s Data Collection Scandal

One of the largest crises that Facebook has faced is the Cambridge Analytica scandal that took place in the 2010s. Facebook gave permission to Cambridge Analytica, a consulting company, to collect data from 87 million users, which was then used in the 2016 election.

Once this information became public, Facebook reacted slowly and wasn’t transparent with users. Eventually, senior leadership explained what happened, why data was collected, and who was impacted. However, the delayed reaction meant that the damage was already done by the time it was addressed.

The lesson here is that the more time goes by before a situation is addressed by the company, the more chance it has to grow into an even larger crisis.

Rebranding Twitter

In October 2022, Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion and quickly made several major changes to the company, including:

• Banning and unbanning users
• Changing the verification badge process
• Firing staff members
• Rebranding the company to X

Not only was the rebranding quick and surprising but many of the steps Musk took weren’t announced before they took effect. This led to several accounts and advertisers jumping ship.

While X did rebound and ended up with other media placements, the bad PR likely had a lasting effect on many advertisers and users. It’s impossible to say how much success Musk could have seen with more thoughtful handling of the X takeover.

The Importance of Planning for a Corporate Reputation Crisis

An integral part of PR crisis management is proactive planning. Gaining insight into vulnerabilities and knowing what to do should a crisis arise are key steps to getting through it as quickly as possible and limiting the damage it causes.

Corporate crisis planning includes strategies like the following:

• Risk Assessment: The organization identifies potential dangers and takes steps to prevent them.
• Communication Planning: A framework is developed for communication-based responses to a crisis. Top goals include protecting the company’s positive reputation and maintaining faith in the brand.
• Crisis Management Strategies: Plans are created for potential crises that could occur, including what should be done before, during and after the crisis.

Planning for a PR crisis includes the steps to prevent the crisis, specific instructions for what to do if the crisis occurs, and plans for rebuilding after the crisis. A crisis management plan should include templates for online conversations, contact information for pre-chosen spokespeople, and crisis simulations. All of this will help prepare the company for what to do in specific situations.

When a company is able to respond quickly to a crisis using pre-planned tactics for limiting damage, the easier it is to maintain a positive reputation.

Corporate Reputation Auditing

Conducting a corporate reputation audit is a smart step toward preventing and preparing for a crisis. This process evaluates how the public views the company to assess the brand’s strengths, weaknesses and points of vulnerability. 

An audit can also help the brand decide the audiences, communication channels and messages that have the biggest impact. When protecting or repairing a corporate reputation, the focus can go to these areas first to make the biggest impression on public perception.

For help with a corporate reputation audit, contact our ORM experts by calling 866-601-6803 .

How To Respond to a PR Crisis

As you saw in the real-life examples above, responding quickly and being transparent are necessary approaches if you want to minimize the damage to your corporate reputation.

The following steps should be part of a corporate crisis response.

Step 1: Acknowledge the Situation

Transparency is necessary for the public and business connections to continue trusting your company. Quickly acknowledge the situation so it doesn’t escalate and lead to rumors or the spread of misinformation.

Real-Life Example

In 2017, Pepsi came under fire for its now-infamous ad campaign starring Kendall Jenner.

While Pepsi first released a statement in defense of the campaign, the ad and campaign were pulled within 24 hours, followed by an apologetic statement.

Ultimately, Pepsi’s response to the crisis was swift and effective, and the brand showed its audience that they were empathetic to their concerns and would (and did) act on them. 

Step 2: Gather Factual Information

A crisis can be complex, confusing and hectic. It’s necessary for your brand to gather factual information and data to accurately combat misinformation and prevent the spread of more incorrect info.

Real-Life Example

In 2015, after Chipotle faced a number of foodborne illness outbreaks, the dining chain closed restaurants in impacted areas to investigate and stop the spread of illness. Thanks to this dedication to collecting data, the company recognized the need for better safety measures, which they instituted and announced to the public.

Step 3: Choose a Spokesperson

Every brand needs a face that the public can associate with it. In the event of a PR crisis, your company needs a well-spoken, confident spokesperson to deliver messages to the public, investors and other affected parties.

Real-Life Example

Sometimes, seeing how a company handled a crisis poorly is the best way to decide how to handle it well.

During the Flint, Michigan, water crisis that took place from 2014 to 2016, Gary Southern, the president of Freedom Industries, served as the spokesperson. According to Wiser Strategies, Southern acted annoyed to be holding a press conference, didn’t express empathy for those impacted, and was even drinking water throughout the conference.

Several mistakes were made, including failing to show compassion, not admitting to wrongdoing, and being unaware of how body language and actions influence corporate reputation.

Step 4: Create Consistent Messaging

When navigating through a PR crisis, the company’s messaging should be empathetic, honest and transparent. It should also be consistent to avoid contradicting what you’ve already said.

Real-Life Example

From 2009 to 2010, Toyota dealt with several recalls that affected vehicles and driver safety throughout the world. Throughout the crisis, Toyota maintained transparent and consistent communication to acknowledge what went wrong, take responsibility, and regularly update customers and the media. Thanks to regular, open communication, the company was able to retain and re-establish trust to avoid complete reputational ruin.

5 Dos and Don’ts for Effective Crisis Communication

As we’ve demonstrated, honesty and transparency are key elements of effective communication during a crisis. Keep these best practices in mind for corporate reputation management during a scandal:

1. Do provide complete information. Being transparent helps the public trust your company while preventing the spread of misinformation.
2. Don’t put the blame on anyone else. Accept responsibility for the situation.
3. Do offer sincere apologies for mistakes and wrongdoings.
4. Don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, customize messaging for different audiences, including customers, employees and stakeholders.
5. Do spread messaging across various communication channels, including press releases for the media, social media platforms, and your website.

The crisis is only the first issue that can impact your positive corporate reputation. How your company responds to the crisis is what matters most in many cases. A proper crisis response can mitigate damage, while improper responses can wreak more havoc and even cause irreparable devastation.

To speak with an expert about corporate reputation management during a crisis, call us at 866-601-6803 today.

Prioritize Corporate Reputation Management

Every company should have a corporate reputation management strategy that’s ready to go in the event of a crisis. However, good corporate reputation management goes far beyond crisis readiness. Many elements affect your company’s reputation, including:

• Customer experience ratings
• Employee satisfaction
• Financial performance
• Media coverage
• Online mentions
• Online reviews
• Social media content
• Workplace environment

With a proactive approach to corporate reputation management, you can develop a positive company reputation and online presence while encouraging customer loyalty. A positive brand reputation can also limit negative feedback and negative publicity from posting and spreading online.

When you develop brand authority, you gain a competitive advantage, encourage better Google reviews, and attract new customers to your business.

To speak with an ORM expert about effective corporate reputation management, call us today at 866-601-6803 .

This article answers the question, “Are mugshots ever deleted?” plus other FAQs about having your mugshot removed from search engine results and mugshot sites.

Everyone has something from their past that they wish they could press the “delete” button on.

If you’ve been in trouble with the law, it’s possible that you’ve had your booking photo taken and that you’ve found your mugshot online.

Data broker sites scrape the internet for all kinds of information about people. That includes contact info, financial records, online mugshots and more.

If your mugshot images exist, it’s possible that it’s on several mugshot sites and accessible with a simple search.

While mugshot photos can be more difficult to remove than a negative news article or a fraudulent company review, it’s not an impossible task.

In this article, we’re going to answer your biggest questions about getting your mugshots removed from Google search and other search engines.

If you’d like to speak with a mugshot removal expert immediately, call us today at 866-601-6803 for a free consultation.

Are Mugshots Ever Deleted?

The short answer to this question is “no.” Once you’ve found your mugshots online, it’s unlikely that they’ll disappear without you requesting removal.

Unless you take the necessary steps to remove them, mugshots are not usually deleted from Google search results or online mugshots websites. That means they can stay online indefinitely. They’ll continue to impact your life, personal relationships and business opportunities potentially forever.

Even in the case of an expunged or sealed record, you may still be able to find your mugshot online.

The best option to protect your online reputation and remove your mugshot from search engines is to work with a removal expert.

Our mugshot removal procedure ensures that we’ll find and remove your info from search results pages. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Is All of My Criminal History Available Online?

Do you have an arrest record or other criminal records that are part of the public record? If so, it’s highly likely that they’re posted online for the public to find.

Wherever your mugshot appears in search engine results, it’s also possible that users can find additional information about your past. That includes criminal charges and details of a criminal case.

Removing your mugshot photo from one site won’t necessarily remove your criminal history info from that site, too. It also won’t ensure that any of your personal information doesn’t show up on several other mugshot websites.

How Do I Remove My Criminal Record From Google?

There are a few ways to remove your criminal record from Google:

• Have the record expunged or sealed.
• Suppress the links to the websites that post arrest records.
• Contact the website owner and request they remove your information.

Sometimes, having your record expunged or sealed isn’t enough to remove your info from a simple online search. In that case, you’ll need to take your online reputation into your own hands to contact each site and request removal.

Why Is My Mugshot Available Online?

The most common reason that your mugshot image appears online is because law enforcement agencies publish mugshots for the sake of the public.

From there, news outlets may pick up and share your online mugshot. Whether or not the media spreads around your mugshot photos, though, automated web crawlers that scrape the internet for personal data are likely to find it.

Once one mugshot site has your image and posts it publicly, other mugshot websites follow.

Why Do Police Post Mugshots on Facebook and Other Social Media Sites?

In addition to posting mugshots on law enforcement websites, police post mugshots on Facebook when it’s in the public’s interest.

For example, let’s say the suspect is a threat to the public. In that case, a law enforcement agency will publicize their photo on social media to help locate the individual. It will also warn the public to avoid that person if they come in contact with them.

The more your mugshot and arrest information is online, the easier it is for web scrapers to find that data. This is how many sites post mugshots they find online.

Get Your Mugshot Removed by Experts

Are you considering taking legal action? That can be a time-consuming and costly option.

First, you may want to contact our team of content removal experts. We’ll work to get your mugshot taken down from mugshot websites and other web pages.

Our online reputation management team knows exactly how to submit an image removal request to each mugshot website your info appears on.

In the event that we’re not able to have your booking photo removed from certain data brokers and mugshot sites, we’ll suppress those Google search results. This will make your booking photos much more difficult to find.

Protect your personal and professional life by speaking with one of our mugshot removal experts today. Call 866-601-6803 for a free consultation.