Our industry has transformed dramatically in just a few years. Contracts are signed digitally, passports and visas are stored online, and we share itineraries across apps. Most of our professional and personal lives travel with us through phones and laptops. Add AI into the mix, particularly around increasingly sophisticated scams, impersonation and fake documentation, and the landscape is shifting faster than many of us can keep up with.
We recently hosted a session on The BACK LOUNGE with SWEEP co-founder Maks Czuperski. SWEEP specialises in identifying digital and physical surveillance risks in real-world environments, including hotels, venues and public spaces. While Czuperski is very much the expert, many of the issues he raised felt immediately relatable and very relevant to anyone spending significant time on the road.
It is easy to assume these concerns only apply to globally famous artists or high-profile executives. But if you have worked around bands long enough, it’s likely you have encountered overly persistent fans, unwanted attention, or situations where local security needed briefing. It’s not only poorly judged social media shares that can leak hotel locations and backstage protocols. When you combine the sheer number of connected devices surrounding us every day, from smart TVs and Bluetooth trackers to unsecured public networks, it becomes obvious that the risks of data breach are so much wider.
Touring requires us to hand over extraordinary amounts of sensitive information. Passports, home addresses, medical conditions, allergies, emergency contacts, banking details and travel schedules are routinely shared. Individually, these details may not mean much, but combined, they create an incredibly detailed picture of someone’s life and movements. And that’s not just the artist, that’s our teams and us. The days when paperwork could be locked safely in a drawer or flight case are long gone. Is our new reality convenient? Absolutely. Secure? Not always.
Hotel Wi-Fi is one example that most of us encounter. As Czuperski pointed out, many of us arrive at a hotel and instantly do the same few things. We connect to Wi-Fi, check emails or finances, call home, maybe stream Netflix before sleep. Harmless enough perhaps, but potentially risky. Open or poorly secured networks can expose personal data far more easily than we realise. The fact that a network requires a room number or password does not automatically make it secure.
Streaming platforms present another surprisingly revealing vulnerability. Most people have walked into a hotel room to discover the previous guest still logged into Netflix. Usually, we simply switch accounts and move on, but in the wrong hands, account settings can quickly reveal names, email addresses and personal information. It is a useful reminder to log out properly wherever you are.
Even something as simple as charging a phone carries a risk. Airport, hotel and backstage USB charging points may be convenient, but plugging directly into an unfamiliar USB port means you do not truly know what sits on the other side of that connection. Using your own plug and mains adapter is a far safer option.
None of this is about paranoia. It is about awareness. We thrive on speed, access and constant connectivity, but the more digital our world becomes, the more exposed we become.
Cybersecurity is no longer simply an IT department issue. It is part of modern touring life. And as our industry continues evolving, there is a growing duty of care for everyone responsible for artists and touring personnel to stay informed and proactive. We can no longer assume cyber issues are something that happens to somebody else; this is something we all need to become aware of.
Words: Suzi Green
