Being a Modern Fan

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Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher, once said that, “without music, life would be a mistake.” This resonates with me, as someone with a profound love and appreciation for music. Like many fans, I’m an avid concert and festival attendee. Just last year, I attended a number of music festivals, from Coachella to Rock The Bells.

Last year’s Coachella music festival sold out quickly. While my friends and I managed to secure tickets, not everyone was so lucky. Shortly after ticket sales ended, I observed a Facebook fan page offering “free tickets” to users who liked the page. It had close to 10,000 likes but contained little information. I started warning friends that the page was a scam. The page was eventually taken down, with no free tickets awarded after all.

These types of online ticket scams may not seem common, but that perception is precisely why an offer like this—whether through social networking or email—may not arouse suspicions.  

Symantec recently conducted a global survey to explore fans’ online and digital behaviors associated with concerts, festivals, and sporting events. We found that nearly one in five people personally purchased, or know someone who purchased, a ticket that did not provide all the access it promised. More than half (58 percent) of problematic tickets originated from online marketplaces.

Smartphones also play an important role in a fan’s overall festival and event experience. Some festivals offer mobile applications with event information, such as a map of the festival grounds and set times for various artists. Our survey also found that 78 percent of fans use their smartphones to take photos and videos.

At last year’s Coachella festival, my friend had her purse stolen. In addition to losing her credit cards and identification, she lost her iPhone. She reached out to me, as someone she can count on for advice on security and technology. Unfortunately, she had not turned on the Find My iPhone app, so we called her service provider to report her phone as stolen and deactivate it. She was without a phone for the rest of the festival, which was a bit frustrating for her. When asked what upset her most about having her phone stolen, she didn’t hesitate to respond, “Losing all of the photos I had taken this weekend.”

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But ask my friend, and she’ll tell you those pictures were priceless.

Upon receiving her replacement iPhone, my friend immediately set up the Find My iPhone app. She started backing up her photos regularly and made sure the password on her phone was strong.

Symantec recommends password protecting your phone with a strong password and, if your phone supports it, enable remote tracking to locate a lost phone. Otherwise, install security software that offers remote tracking and wiping functionality. Back up your data regularly and be wary of free ticket scams on social networks.

These are just a few of the easy yet important steps you should take before heading out to a concert or a festival. In the event that your smartphone is lost or stolen, this can help prevent unauthorized access, give you the ability to remotely wipe your device, and ensure the memories you captured at the event won’t be lost forever.

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