Getting your music stolen is a nightmare for any musician. After all, art is all about originality and authenticity.
Since music is now mostly created digitally, music theft often happens through hacking or the stealing of digital files. As a musician, how do you protect your music files from being stolen?
Let’s discuss.
Is cybersecurity important in the music industry?
Yes, 100%. Just last year, over 680 people’s data were stolen from Universal Music Group.
If one of the largest music corporations in the world—likely with full-fledged IT and cybersecurity departments—can be targeted, so can bands, independent musicians, and smaller groups.
The good news is that musicians don’t need to turn into computer scientists to protect their files. With 5 simple steps, they can protect their music files with ease.
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Use Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication
Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) for all your accounts, not just music-related ones. After all, any account can be a gateway into your other accounts if the hacker is smart enough.
Make sure each password you use is:
- 8-12 characters;
- Unique;
- A mix of letters, numbers, and symbols;
- Not easily gleaned from your public information (like your birthday).
And make sure to enable 2FA for every account that it’s available on. While it may be a hassle to input an OTP or remember a different password for every account, it’s infinitely less of a headache than getting your accounts hacked.
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Use a Virtual Private Network
Speaking of all the devices musicians typically use, consider using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your data by masking your IP address. This added layer of encryption makes it infinitely harder for hackers to get into your system.
This is particularly useful when you go out a lot to collaborate with other artists and use public Wi-Fi, for example. Because on public Wi-Fi, hackers can easily access the connections of everyone connected to that network.
Many providers offer a VPN on multiple devices, making it easy to keep all your devices (phone, laptop, tablet, etc.) protected.
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Back Up Your Projects Regularly
No one wants to lose a music session due to a crashed hard drive or corrupted file. (Especially when the vocalist finally got that high note right!)
Make it a habit to place your files regularly in at least two places: one local (like an external hard drive) and one cloud-based service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud).
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Be Cautious When Collaborating
Collaboration is the name of the game in music production, but it inevitably comes with risk.
Firstly, only share project files through encrypted emails or on trusted platforms like Splice or WeTransfer. Sending files through social media, for example, is risky, especially if your social media account gets hacked.
Also, be careful about who you allow access to your music files. Never share files with anyone you don’t fully trust. Only permit individual people. For example, if you’re using Google Drive, don’t set a file to be accessible to “anyone with the link” – only give access to people’s email addresses.
Lastly, make sure your collaborators also understand basic cybersecurity practices. It only takes one person in the group to leak your files.
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Keep Your Software and Devices Updated
Old software can be full of security holes. Updates typically contain security patches, so make sure your devices and programs are updated.
This applies to everything, from your computer’s operating system to your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to your plug-ins to your phone’s and tablet’s apps.
Always download and install updates before using them or sharing files. If possible, turn auto-updates on to make this step hassle-free.
Conclusion
Protecting your music files and sessions doesn’t require you to be a tech expert—just a little extra awareness and a few smart habits.
Enact these practices today, and you can have the ease of mind to focus on creating great music.
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