As threats grow more advanced, companies are increasingly questioning whether to hire a full-time in-house security manager, or rely on an outsourced Virtual CISO (Chief Information Security Officer). Each approach offers unique strengths that influence cost, flexibility, and long-term resilience.

The choice you make can define how effectively your business responds to emerging risks and evolving compliance demands. Follow along to see which option best suits your organisation’s security goals.

What a virtual CISO brings to your business

A virtual CISO, or vCISO, offers senior-level cybersecurity expertise on a flexible, outsourced basis. Instead of hiring a permanent executive, your business can gain access to professionals who have managed security for many organisations. So, hiring a Virtual CISO advisory service, such as the one offered by Equilibrium Security, gives you access to experienced specialists who design tailored strategies that align with your goals and regulatory obligations.

The main advantage of a vCISO is flexibility. They operate remotely, often part-time, providing strategic leadership without the full cost of an in-house executive. This approach suits small and medium-sized businesses that can’t justify a permanent CISO but still need enterprise-grade support.

The flip side: why businesses still value in-house security leads

An in-house security lead still remains an essential role for organisations that require direct, day-to-day oversight. They handle internal policies, lead security teams, and coordinate rapid responses to incidents. Having someone on-site allows for faster communication and a deeper understanding of company systems, culture, and priorities.

However, it goes without saying that maintaining an in-house lead comes at a higher cost. Salaries, training, and recruitment expenses can add up quickly. Skilled professionals are also in high demand, making it difficult to retain top talent. Still, an in-house lead offers stability, continuous presence, and real-time decision-making which are valuable traits for large organisations managing complex infrastructures.

Expertise vs cost

A Virtual CISO brings wide-ranging experience gained from working with clients across different sectors. This exposure enables them to recognise risks that internal teams might overlook.

They can scale their involvement based on your current needs by providing more support during audits, incidents, or system upgrades and stepping back when demand is lower. This flexibility ensures your business only pays for what it needs while maintaining high-level security insight.

Meanwhile, an in-house security lead is fully embedded within the organisation. They understand your operations intimately and can influence behaviour across departments.

Their proximity allows for immediate collaboration and stronger internal relationships. Yet, compared to a Virtual CISO, they may have limited exposure to evolving external threats as their experience focuses solely on one business environment.

Weighing them up

Deciding between a Virtual CISO and an in-house lead depends on your company’s structure, size, and security priorities. If your business requires consistent on-site leadership and operates within heavily-regulated industries, an internal lead may be better.

Conversely, if you’re seeking flexible, expert-driven support without committing to full-time costs, a Virtual CISO advisory service provides scalable expertise and trusted guidance from industry professionals.

Both roles serve the same goal of protecting your organisation’s data, reputation, and operations. The right choice depends on how you balance cost with control. Whichever model you choose, expert leadership is the key to staying ahead of emerging threats. A well-guided strategy today is what keeps your business secure tomorrow.

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We’re all profoundly aware, even to the point of dread, that fiddling with our passwords is, at the very least, unwise. So why do we keep neglecting password management so blindly? There are dozens of easily implementable solutions we can adopt right now and do away with a long-held, unnecessary stress, enjoying peace of mind knowing our credentials are protected.

Digital serenity starts with strong data protection; yet internet users engage in all sorts of risky practices. Stats are worrisome, particularly for younger generations. Despite 79% of Zoomers know that reusing the same credentials across more accounts is unsafe, only 7% can say they’ve broken the habit.

So, why are awareness levels at their height, but only on paper? Could it be ‘password fatigue’ that’s keeping people in this silent cycle and risking their financial, emotional, and personal lives?

We dive into one of the most curious cases of the digital age: why, despite knowing the risks, many keep jeopardising their digital peace of mind for reasons that go beyond forgetfulness or carelessness.

Awareness at its zenith

When it comes to awareness across generations, it’s perhaps understandable why youngsters are more familiar and aware of the importance of good password practices. They’ve never known a world without the internet, social media, apps, and online sites around, thus digital risks have become something similar to the risk of exposure to the scorching sun without SPF for the whole summer holiday.

As a norm, cybersecurity advice has always been there, from recommendations in news articles to TikTok explainers to workplace training sessions. Sometimes – and hopefully increasingly frequently – businesses adopt digital solutions such as providing each employee with a dedicated business email in order to secure data and mitigate risks that would otherwise arise from practices like storing passwords in notes, easily exposable and not at all concealed, at least from a good hacker’s POV.

GenX are lagging behind when it comes to authentication

While over 80% of Gen Z and Millennials say they’re likely to enable (multi factor authentication) MFA, only about one-third of Gen X say they use tools like password managers — showing MFA adoption still lags in that group. And although this is an indicator of how the younger generations approach digital safety, they’re still failing to change passwords when needed, or to use complex passwords. An intriguing paradox, right?

Read more: How smart tech is transforming the hotel experience

Password fatigue – where the stress stems

How come the gap between awareness and action is alarmingly high? A possible reason is psychological, and it borders on the tiredness of stressing over passwords, aka password fatigue. There are high stress levels when it comes to creating, storing, and keeping credentials safe from predators, or from leaking. Many are willing to actually give up an account if accessing it means going through the reset process. While others are intentionally forgetting passwords, knowing that changing them is so easy – you usually give your phone number and receive a code.

Unlike Boomers, who may use fewer online apps and services, other generations juggle multiple digital accounts. According to the same Business Wire news article, 72% of Millennials and Zoomers have less than 25 distinct passwords, even though the number of accounts they hold can well exceed this figure.

The maths just doesn’t seem to make sense. Unless internet users use a password manager, reuse becomes difficult, if not impossible, to avoid.

Password sharing inertia

Another weakness among internet users is sharing passwords, whether over text messages, verbal exchanges, or screenshots, to name a few. Despite the availability of safe digital sharing tools, younger users often turn to shortcuts, with few really using secure sharing platforms. Part of this innocence may come from their collaborative digital habits, with individuals sharing the same accounts, thus credentials, across apps like Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, etc. It’s not just about money saving and convenience, but also a way to demonstrate trust among peers and socialize more.

What may seem heartwarming can unfortunately become a big vulnerability – smaller business accounts, for instance, are more appealing and targeted by cybercriminals than those of bigger companies. This reality proves that no matter how unimportant one deems their data to be, a cyberpunk out there will find it useful and desirable.

Being aware doesn’t mean taking action

Despite knowing better, every generation falls short on password hygiene, prompting reflection over the reasons that sustain bad habits. First, individuals aren’t willing to compromise on their convenience, not even for security. Notifications that a password has been involved in a data breach often fail to generate tangible consequences, reinforcing the perception that password threats aren’t truly that serious. Over time, this combo of convenience and a lack of immediate repercussions makes it easier for risky habits to hold on.

Repeated warnings and breach alerts themselves lead to users becoming desensitised and unmoved, creating apathy and security fatigue. Themes like these demonstrate that it’s less about ignorance, and more about psychology and habit.

What to hope for in the future

There’s a need to address how all generations approach password management, and it’s important to understand it in order to better protect your own digital life. Most parts are about how you regard your digital activity, so depending on which category you belong to, you may engage in one or another.

The idea of using stronger passwords is toast and can even add to tiredness when this is already a well-known fact among netizens. The focus – yours included – should better shift toward other practices, like using biometrics and passwordless authentication methods, securing credentials with password managers, and staying up to date with emerging solutions.

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While many people are familiar with voice assistants, other emerging systems offer the potential to enhance security and comfort for tech-savvy consumers. We look at the top smart home features that will soon change how we live.

AI-powered predictive maintenance systems

Machine learning algorithms make devices more intuitive and adaptive to homeowners’ needs. Nest and Hive can learn your routine, automatically adjusting the temperature of different rooms to save energy costs and maintain comfort. Nest thermostats can automatically switch to ‘Eco Temperatures’ based on your phone’s location and activity sensors when no one is home.

Predictive AI in home automation allows devices to detect when they will fail and alert you in advance, like washing machines notifying you when a part needs replacing before it breaks. The more you use these devices, the better they will understand and predict your habits, like dimming lights before going to bed or starting to brew coffee before you wake up.

Emotion-aware environmental controls

Advances in AI smart systems could soon facilitate mood-detection technology, personalising the home environment further. Emotional artificial intelligence is a field dedicated to analysing vast amounts of data to recognise, categorise, and adapt to human behaviour.

Homes with integrated EAI systems may adjust the lighting to warmer tones after sensing their owners have had a stressful day at work or gently play relaxing music to lower an elevated heart rate. These systems could even analyse users’ voices during phone calls to detect emotional cues of anxiety and depression.

Autonomous security networks

Ring is perhaps the best-known smart home security system. It employs a combination of sensors and cameras to send alerts to users’ smartphones. Unlike traditional alarm systems that rely on basic motion detection, it uses the Motion Zones features to create specific areas that trigger alerts, ignoring normal street activity while focusing on entryways.

Other brands use facial recognition technology to allow known family members and friends into homes while sending alerts if they detect an unfamiliar face. Data-intensive home security systems require seamless connectivity, so consider reviewing fibre deals to ensure your home network can simultaneously handle multiple 4K video streams and real-time AI processing.

Integrated health monitoring ecosystems

In addition to sensing emotions, AI is beginning to monitor health at home. Smart toilets are already analysing biomarkers in urine and stool to offer insights into potential health conditions.

The Israeli medical device Olive Diagnostics has released its KG sensor mounts onto toilets and performs real-time urinalyses to detect biomarkers for kidney, ovarian, and prostate cancer, as well as heart failure and kidney stones.

Smart inhalers like Berry Healthcare’s RS01X can monitor therapy adherence and inhalation techniques to provide feedback, helping asthma patients manage their condition more effectively at home.

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And in 2025, the differences are more noticeable than ever. While the core purpose hasn’t changed (secure the premises, keep intruders out), the way we think about shop shutters, and shutter systems, has.

Smart tech integration is becoming standard, expectations around appearance are higher, and downtime is no longer really tolerated. If you’re reviewing options this year, here are the key things worth paying attention to.

Smart functionality

Electric operation isn’t new, but the level of automation now expected has definitely changed. Businesses are looking for shutters that connect with wider security systems – think keyless entry, mobile control, and integration with CCTV or alarms.

Some systems, like those offered by LBS Group, can be linked into building management systems, allowing for more precise control and fewer manual errors. This can be particularly useful if you’re managing multiple sites or need timed closure when staff aren’t around.

Matching your risk level

Steel and aluminium are still the go-tos, but not every shutter labelled ‘steel’ offers the same protection. It’s worth digging into the spec a little deeper, asking questions like what gauge am I getting? What kind of finish? Galvanised? Powder-coated? Will it hold up in wet weather? Does it meet insurance standards?

If your premises sit on a busy high street, you’ll likely need something heavier-duty than a small retail unit inside a shopping centre. Check for certification – not just promises – to know what level of resistance you’re actually getting.

The aesthetic is important

Security might come first, but how your storefront looks with the shutter down has a growing influence – especially with evening footfall on the rise. Solid panels might still be the right option for some, but punched or perforated designs are worth considering if you want passersby to see inside after hours.

Brushed metal isn’t your only choice anymore. Most manufacturers will offer a range of finishes, and if your branding’s bold, your shutters probably shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Long-term reliability

Most shutters work well on day one. What you need to think about is how well they’ll function after years of use. You’ll want to choose an option that’s reliable, easy to service, and cheap to replace parts that are expected to wear out.

The quicker and smoother the system, the more likely your team will use it correctly, without starting to take shortcuts. If opening the shop turns into a daily battle with a slow-moving shutter, staff will find workarounds, which is often when wear and tear accelerates.

Regulatory concerns

Regulatory issues may seem like a small point of concern, but they’re something that can cost you later. Some insurers insist on shutters that meet specific standards. If you don’t check this ahead of time, you might find yourself with great-looking shutters that aren’t recognised when it counts.

Choosing shop shutters in 2025 means balancing a few different factors. It’s not about finding the cheapest quote – it’s about getting a solution that’s perfectly suited to your needs, and can keep your business secure for years to come.

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With everyone increasingly active online, awareness of internet security is critical. With the growing use of technology comes the risk of swindles, including scams and online threats. It’s important to be proactive about your online safety to protect yourself from these risks.

Common scams

Scammers use several methods to try and leverage the information they need. This includes sending phishing emails that mimic banks or retailers, tricking victims into sharing personal details.

Tech support scams involve fake calls from companies like Microsoft, claiming computer issues and demanding payment or remote access. Some fraudsters even deceive victims into giving them money through dating platforms. Other examples include lottery scams that promise winnings but require upfront fees, as well as fake charity pages asking for donations for non-existent causes.

These acts prey on trust and generosity, making awareness key to your own protection.

Key safety tips

Using strong, unique passwords is essential. Choose combinations with at least 12 characters, mixing letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid easily guessed details like names or birthdays and consider a password manager that can help store and generate secure passwords.

Watch out for phishing risks and keep software updated to protect against cyber threats. Use secure connections, avoiding public Wi-Fi for private tasks, and consider a VPN for added security.

Be cautious of phishing attempts

Phishing is one of the most common ways scammers steal personal information. Always be cautious when you receive suspicious emails, texts or calls requesting sensitive details. If in doubt, contact the company directly through official channels to check. Make sure you never click on suspicious links or attachments, as they could lead to malicious websites.

Protect personal information

Be mindful of how much information you share, especially on social media. Adjust your privacy settings to limit who can see your posts and avoid sharing sensitive data such as your full address publicly. Remember, cybercriminals can use small insights to target you with more specific attacks.

Keep software and devices updated

It’s crucial to keep your devices up to date. Install antivirus software and firewalls to help defend against malware and viruses.

To make things easier, you can set your devices to update automatically whenever new patches or security fixes are released. These updates often address vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

Use secure connections

When accessing sensitive websites (such as online banking or shopping sites) avoid using public Wi-Fi, as it can be insecure. If you have no choice, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for added security. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for anyone to intercept your data.

What to do if you suspect a scam

If you believe you’ve been scammed, it’s important to act quickly. Contact the local police if you suspect that money has been stolen or if you’ve provided personal details. Inform family members or trusted friends so they can offer support and help you assess the situation.

Make sure to change the passwords for any affected accounts to prevent further damage. If you’ve provided credit card or banking information, alert your bank or credit card company immediately.

By staying aware, you can greatly reduce your chances of being caught out. Taking the time to educate yourself will allow you to enjoy all the benefits the internet has to offer with fewer risks. Stay vigilant and always trust your instincts – if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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As data protection laws continue to evolve across the world, so too does the public’s awareness of privacy rights. When the GDPR was implemented back in 2018, it ushered in a new era of understanding; one that still shapes consumer expectations to this day. Strong policies and practices for data protection have become a necessary component for building customer trust and loyalty, and it’s no longer just a regulatory requirement, but a fundamental pillar of customer relationships.

In this article, a team of outsourced data protection officers explore how data protection strengthens the foundations of customer trust and loyalty, focusing on transparent communication and Privacy by Design practices – core elements that not only support compliance with data protection regulations, but also enhance an organisation’s customer experience strategy.

Transparency creates trust

The 2024 Data Privacy Benchmark Study revealed that 94% of organisations believe their customers would stop purchasing from them if they did not properly protect data.

This clearly highlights the importance of proper care when it comes to customer data, and in the context of data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), transparency is a fundamental element of compliance. Under the principle of Lawfulness, Fairness and Transparency, organisations are required to provide individuals with information about how their data is collected, processed, stored, and shared.

This principle is echoed in many other jurisdictional data protection legislations around the world, like Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US.

But beyond the requirements for compliance, being open about how your business collects, uses, and protects personal data builds a relationship of trust with consumers. When people know they can rely on your organisation to handle their data responsibly, they are more likely to feel comfortable engaging with your business, and remain loyal to your services.

So how do you ensure transparency?

Exercising transparency should be more than just providing information on your organisation’s personal data processing practices, and should be done in an easy-to-understand and accessible way, so that your customers know what’s happening with their information at all times.

There are some practical and sector-specific examples of how you can approach this, as outlined below.

Use clear, simple language

Communicating in straightforward terms helps your customers (and potential customers) to understand your data practices, without any confusion.

While there may be some complex data processes in play for certain functionalities or services, explaining this in a clear, accessible way will help customers understand how their data is being managed. Stating something to the effect of “we use your browsing history to suggest apps you might like”, removes any jargon that, while technically accurate, may be difficult to understand.

Establish a clear structure and navigation

Organising information in a logical way allows people to find what they need quickly and easily.

For instance, a Healthcare provider could organise their privacy policy into clearly defined sections, such as ‘Patient Data’, ‘Appointment Information’, and ‘Billing Details’. This makes critical information easily accessible and allows patients to navigate the policy with ease.

Incorporate visual aids

Visuals such as infographics, flowcharts, or graphic elements are a great way to simplify complex information. In many cases, clear imagery can be processed easier than sections of text; instead of a long list of all the different types of personal information you collect, you could use icons instead. For an insurance company, this could mean using an icon of a house for property details or a car for vehicle information. This visual representation enhances understanding and makes the data collection more transparent.

Ensure proper placement

Making important information easy to find is a vital element of proper transparency.

When it comes to eCommerce sites, this could mean displaying a prominent link to privacy policies during the checkout process, ensuring customers can easily review it before making a purchase. FAQ sections and visual aids can also help in simplifying the information for better understanding. Enabling customers to review key information before making a purchase could lead to an avoidance of complaints further down the road.

Privacy by Design

Earlier, we referenced the 2024 Data Privacy Benchmark Study. Another statistic drawn from this study shows that 80% of organisations reported significant improvements in customer loyalty and trust as a result of investments in privacy measures. This increased to 92% among organisations that considered their privacy programmes as being ahead of their competitors.

Evidently, embedding privacy measures into the core of business operations is a vital component of success. Proactive strategies, like Privacy by Design, offer a complete framework for achieving this. The concept involves integrating appropriate technical and organisational measures into the design and development of new information systems, services, or products.

For organisations operating under the UK and/or EU GDPR, Privacy by Design is a requirement of compliance. This principle ensures that data protection measures are upheld throughout the entire lifecycle of data processing.

Read more: efficient ways to organise files and folders on your Mac

How to achieve Privacy by Design

There are no hard and fast rules for organisations to follow to achieve Privacy by Design, and it also depends on the type of data you are processing and what your organisation does, but here are some of the most important considerations:

Over the years, data protection has become much more than a compliance obligation, and now plays an important part in the development of customer trust and loyalty. As consumers become increasingly aware of their privacy rights, organisations need to recognise that safeguarding personal data is a key factor in maintaining brand credibility and securing strong customer relationships.

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Governments in countries such as the US, Japan, and Canada already have a phone emergency alert system in place, and the UK Government is about to follow suit. But there are a number of reasons why you might not want the alerts on your phone. So here’s how to turn off the UK emergency alerts on your phone.

Testing, testing…

At 3pm on Sunday 23 April 2023, phones connected to 4G and 5G services will receive an Emergency Alert practice notification – brace yourself for a loud siren for around 10 seconds. The phone will still play the alert sound, even if the phone is on silent or vibrate. You’ll need to acknowledge it to make it go away.

In future after the test, Emergency Alerts will appear on your device whenever there is some kind of ‘threat to life’. These threats include extreme weather, public safety alerts, terrorism incidents, and missing persons.

The alerts appear as a notification and may include telephone numbers or website links containing further information. As well as the loud, siren-like sound, your phone will vibrate.

Why wouldn’t you want this?

So, let’s start with domestic violence. There are many victims who keep a secret, silent phone, which can often be their only lifeline to safety. Having that alert go off could reveal the phone. The women and children’s domestic violence charity Refuge highlights that for many women, only a silent phone is a safe phone.

Then there’s the panic the alerts can cause. Reading threads on forums where Canadians and US citizens are discussing the down sides of alerts, high on the list is the anxiety the alerts can create. Not just when they go off, but the constant anticipation that they might.

Imagine a siren going off in the dead of night whilst you’re sound asleep. Talk about stressful.

They can also go off in the night – and again, anecdotal conversation seems to indicate that often the alerts go off during the night for issues that nobody can act on at that moment. Having sleep disturbance isn’t great. Imagine a siren going off in the dead of night whilst you’re sound asleep. Talk about stressful.

People also report getting alerts for issues that are geographically far away, meaning they’re irrelevant. This could be anything from an incoming storm, to a missing senior citizen. And that id then stressful for no reason.

Also, whilst driving, the alerts can go off and cause alarm. And mistakes can be made. One commenter on a forum stated: “… an error at one of our nuclear power plants sent floods of texts to everyone that an accident had occurred and for people to seek shelter. During a test of their systems, the texts were actually sent instead of role-played. It took hours for it to be cancelled… it sent millions of people into an emergency state of shock and disbelief.”

Read: How to stay safe when online dating

Can the government track you using this system?

Well, the official line is no, it’s not possible. The government’s FAQs download states that “The system uses the cell tower your phone is connected to. When an alert is triggered, all towers in the area will broadcast the alert. To do this the Government does not need to know the specific location or personal data on your device.”

However, by responding to the alert, which you have to do to turn it off, you are actually confirming your location. So make of that what you will.

More than anything, many people construe the notifications as an intrusion, a breach of privacy. The alerts override your silent mode, meaning you still get the noise and the message, and not everyone appreciates that.

People who are bed-bound, unwell, neurodiverse, or even in hospital for example. Emergency alerts are highly likely to be most unwelcome.

Is there anything good about the alerts?

Good question. I guess you could argue that being alerted to a sudden storm might be useful, although you could just look out of the window. If there’s an act of terrorism, or a nuclear bomb, my guess is that you’re going to spot that yourself.

If your child goes missing, or your elderly relative, it might be comforting to think that other people were keeping an eye out for them.

Other than that, I’m personally struggling to see the point. New Yorkers, living in an extremely densely populated area, point out that the alerts go off all the time – particularly for missing kids – only to be cancelled hours later (more notifications). Canadians, with their much broader territory, find it irritating to receive alerts from their nearest cell towers, which could mean they’re getting flash information about something happening hundreds of miles away.

Turning the Emergency Alerts off

There are ways to opt out of this. Airplane mode will stop the alerts, although obviously that’s only temporary. Once you reconnect to 4G or 5G you will get the alerts again.

If you’ve got an old phone that only has 2G or 3G, or you only ever use Wi-Fi, you won’t get the alerts. If you’re on a non-smart mobile phone playing Snake, you’re probably pretty safe.

IOS users

Select ‘Notifications’ in the setting app and scroll to the very bottom of the page. You’ll see under ‘Emergency alerts’ two toggles; ‘extreme alerts,’ and ‘severe alerts.’

Turn these toggles off so the buttons are no longer green.

Android users

Go to the settings app and select the ‘Safety & Emergency’ menu. Select ‘Wireless emergency alerts’ near the end of the list. Toggle off the ‘Allow alerts’ button in this page. The button will now appear grey instead of blue.

Samsung Galaxy users

In the settings app click ‘Notifications.’ Scroll to the bottom to select ‘Advance settings.’ At the bottom of the page click ‘Wireless emergency alerts.’ On this screen toggle off the ‘Allow alerts’ button.

For more information, visit the Government Alerts website

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post How to turn off UK Emergency Alerts on your phone; and why you might want to appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Flicking through the news stories this morning I’m seeing a slew of bad stuff going down at festivals. The final day at Reading saw mobs setting fires and brawling, with other safety concerns raised such as needle spiking, looting, and people throwing big stuff at each other.

A 16-year-old lad has died at Leeds Festival, possibly after taking MDMA. A rape has happened at Green Man festival in Wales. We’ve got arrests at Notting Hill Carnival for offensive weapons, sexual assault, and drugs; and this is over just one weekend. And only in the UK.

I guess if you lock young people up for a couple of years and then let them go berserk in a field with loads of alcohol, drugs, and loud music, some of this might have been expected. But if that’s the case, why aren’t there measures in place to manage this?

And what is the future of our festivals looking like?

She's moving to the arena but security are thin on the ground. This is orange camp off Little John's Lane pic.twitter.com/1VmP25xfLw

— Alison (@999bradders) August 28, 2022

Have we learned nothing from Woodstock 99 or Fyre?

Last weekend I sat down to watch Woodstock 99, and ended up binge watching the whole thing, my jaw falling increasingly south. Like most people, I could hardly believe was I was seeing. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s quite the watch.

As someone who owned an event management business for a decade, I was shocked and astonished at the appalling organisational tactics, mostly. And as a TV voyeur with a dark and twisted sense of humour, I confess to being absolutely glued to the whole debacle. I think I must have said “holy fuck” about twenty times per episode.

Off the back of that, even though I kinda knew the story, yesterday I watched the Fyre Festival one. Shocking in a different way, slightly more amusing because honestly, who the hell falls for that sort of PR based on an event that has never existed before? The fact that people parted with thousands of dollars for what was essentially a ponzi scheme, like Woodstock 99 also was, is appalling, of course it is. But this felt like a much more modern calamity, and I’m afraid I laughed anew at the cheese sandwich Tweet.

This stuff is so predictable, really

I was struck by a few things, watching both these documentaries. First and foremost, the ego – and astonishing charisma – of the men at the helm. To have pushed huge scale events that far forward without having everyone just downing tools is frankly astounding. You’ve gotta have some hutzpah for that kind of bullshit. Interestingly neither Billy McFarland (Fyre) nor the late Michael Lang (Woodstock) were the slightest bit repentant after the events. A psychologist would have a field day.

Secondly, how making things about money is never a great idea. Woodstock 99 was a scamola from start to finish, and Fyre was SO much about money, that people couldn’t even trust their own gut instincts about the whole thing until it was too late.

Thirdly, choosing the right acts is important. Who the hell thought Woodstock 99 should have a lineup that included Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Rage… etc? What kind of vibe did they expect to create with that kind of music? Doesn’t look very Woodstocky to me – and Fred Durst has a lot to answer for, in my humble opinion. Apparently at Reading, the fights started breaking out when two acts with differing subcultural followings were mixed together, resulting in the modern-day equivalent of mods and rockers going at it. Jesus, first rule of large scale events – know your audience.

Fourth, if you treat people like animals, very often they’ll behave like animals. That’s in any situation.

Fifth, you can never have enough decent security, risk assessments, or medics. And I don’t just mean to keep crowd control, I mean to keep people actually safe. Stop them getting spiked or raped. Take care of them when they’re hurt or ill. Prevent people setting fires, and so on. When things get ugly in crowds, that vibe spreads FAST, motherfucker. Remember football violence?

Finally, it’s young, mostly white males who do this shit. Most people over 35 at festivals have zero energy or tolerance for this kind of crap. They’ve either got kids with them, or they’re not interested. They’re there for the music, and the vibe. And yeah, I know there are exceptions. And if I’m going to go with sweeping statements, I’m also going to bet that the boys do the damage, but often the girls egg them on. Come for me on that, I’ll stand by it.

So, should we stop letting in young people?

Now look. I’m out here fighting ageism, and that means in ALL its forms. So I don’t do the whole ‘young people today are so ghastly’ thing. Mostly they’re not. Mostly they’re brilliant. But I’m also 52 years of age and I’ve had my fair share of mosh pits and danger. If I go to a festival, honestly, I want a nice tent with a proper bed, some hot showers and clean lavs, decent food, great music, the chance to wear stupid clothes – that kind of thing.

I don’t want to set fire to others’ belongings, throw chairs at people who like folk music, fight with the vegan felafel vendor for not having bacon, or kick down a stage. None of these things feel like fun. Well, maybe kicking down a stage would feel kinda cool. But I wouldn’t do it. I’m there to have a nice time.

Like this article? You might like You Don’t Have to be Over 50 to go to a Festival but it Helps

But, yaknow, there are issues here. And the issues need fixing

We need better security – not just a ton of first year uni students volunteering so they get to see the bands for free. Properly trained people that cost actual money.

We need better first aid and medical support, better drug testing. There is no point telling people not to take drugs at a festival, but you CAN make them safer.

More security looking out for idiots with needles. This needle-spiking trend is grim. I honestly don’t know how to fix it, but how about stop looking for people smoking weed, and start expending more time looking for real wrong ‘uns?

And treat people well. They have paid good money to come to an event, put their trust in the organisers to look after them, entertain them, feed them… it’s not much to ask. And the prices are high – festivals are not a cheap ticket. If you treat people badly, they’ll behave badly.

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Have large scale music festivals had their day? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Are you one of those people who ‘never forgets a face’? Or like me, are good with names, not so good at faces? We all see or recognise people in different ways, remembering different things. Ask three people to describe a person they’ve met once and they’ll all give you different descriptions.

But a super recogniser is something completely different. Being able to recognise faces in crowds, from grainy photographs, from a distance, even with faces partially-covered, the super recogniser has the ability to pick a face from a crowd, even after having only seen it briefly.

Super recognisers are able to memorise and recall faces with astonishing accuracy, often having seen them only once. But what exactly does this mean?

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR SKILL?

“I can recognise faces easily – I have a better than average ability to remember and recall numerous faces, perhaps having only seen them once or twice for short periods of time. 

“I was on maternity leave a few years back and was filling time during night feeds with surveys and answering random quizzes (as you do). This one particular quiz about recognising faces caught my eye. I did the quiz and scored 100% and filled in my information for the University of Greenwich who then contacted me to do a couple more in depth questions and answers.

“I scored in the highest bracket and they invited me to become a registered super recogniser. This means that I have access to job opportunities where a super recogniser may be needed. This is things like big events where they may be on the lookout for a criminal and only have grainy CCTV footage for me to recognise him/her from. I can spot them.

“I’m a nightmare to watch films with. I see an actor and know I have seen them before and I’ll rack my brains until I can name them and the film/TV programme they were in before. I worry sometimes that people think I’m rude because I usually recognise everyone I have ever spoken to, even if it was a random for two minutes in a bar three years ago. It means I often won’t say hello to people when I pass them at the supermarket or wherever because people don’t usually recognise me back.”

WHAT KIND OF WORK IS INVOLVED?

“I belong to the Association of Super Recognisers. You go through levels where you do further training to fine tune your skills. You can then go on to apply for job opportunities, and work your way up to work for the police and government agencies.

“I’m always fascinated by seeing how light hits people’s faces as it casts shadows. When it comes to looking at faces on CCTV or mugshot, I look at, say, how close together someone’s eyes are, or how their ears sit on their heads. Which must sound really bizarre to some people but I do it without even thinking about it. 

“From a security point of view, the implications of not fulfilling the job requirement is huge. I am currently doing training to hopefully work with the police. I haven’t yet, due to having children and it means time away from home. But I am definitely working towards it. It’s serious stuff! I would love to have the time to eventually do something like this.”

DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENT TO OTHER PEOPLE?

“As I’ve nothing to compare it to, I’m unsure how other people see faces. But I’m also a makeup artist so do look at people’s bones structure and distinguishing features all the time.

“I wonder how other people see faces. I tend to over-analyse and overthink all the time in all aspects of my life. People’s faces are just another ‘thing’. It’s never to judge or anything like that. I will scrutinise the details in an instant but it’s second nature to me. 

“It impacts my relationships with people. As mentioned before, I think people will think I’m a bit of a weirdo if I was to say hi to them and they didn’t recognise me back, so I tend not to, unless someone says hi to me first. Also, I’m quite socially awkward so it definitely affects how I make an impression with new people and I worry what people think of me. I ‘think’ people believe I’m a bit stand-offish at first.”

CAN YOU SPOT OTHER THINGS, LIKE EMOTIONS TOO?

“I can read people’s emotions quite well. I’m very good at being able to tell if someone is lying. Body language fascinates me and little things that people do subconsciously when lying I can pick up on very quickly. 

“I would imagine if you wanted to brush up your skills you could train to improve, but I think you would really have to change the way you look at people. Some may find hard, especially in social situations if you aren’t used to it. 

“I love that I am a ‘super-recogniser’ – it sounds great doesn’t it?! I love that I have a skill that not a lot of people have. I wouldn’t see it as a hindrance, although my general overthinking can be sometimes. But the ability to be able to recognise so many people who come in and out of my life is pretty cool in my eyes.”

If you’re interested to find out if you’re a super recogniser there’s a test on the University of Greenwich website.

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post The secret life of a super recogniser appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Whether you’ve recently become single, or have single friends and family in your life, you’ll probably know that the dating scene has changed a lot over the years. Whereas in the past, people mainly relied on connections through friends or colleagues to meet a potential partner, nowadays tech-based solutions like dating apps are increasingly the norm.

Previously this may have had some stigma attached to it, attitudes are now changing. And why not? Dating apps allow users to connect with a much wider range of people than they might otherwise come across in their everyday life. It also means they can filter who they interact with, to ensure common habits and interests too.

If you’re new to the online dating world, it’s good to have some tips to hand to ensure you can keep yourself safe while exploring new connections.

While most people are genuine, it’s good to know how you can mitigate risks and keep clear of any ‘catfish’ – people who create fake profiles on dating sites to deceive others into thinking they’re someone else – who may be lurking.

Whilst our app has photo verification methods to stay catfish-free, there’s other obstacles to avoid, so here’s my top advice…

Trust your instincts

By all means, be open to getting to know your potential love interest inside and out, but trust your instincts and follow the rule that if something seems off, then it probably is.

For example, a red flag would be if the person you’re talking to is asking questions that could link to your banking details or address. Inevitably, the more you talk to someone online, the more inclined you may be to share personal information. Think about what they’re asking you.

When the time is right, and you decide to maybe meet up, be aware that sharing further information, such as pictures or old school details, might also give too much away to the wrong person.

…if the person asks you for money, or constantly makes excuses as to why they can’t meet you, something is probably awry

Most importantly, if the person asks you for money, or constantly makes excuses as to why they can’t meet you, something is probably awry. Fraudsters are experts in coercion, and while most people will be sincere, it’s good to stay alert.

Stay in control

The great thing about most dating apps are the built-in safety features. Not only can you use filters to determine exactly what you’re looking for in a potential partner, most apps have safety elements working to eliminate fraudsters.

By talking on the app before meeting in person, you remain in control, giving you time to build up your relationship, safe in the knowledge that the person you are speaking to is the real deal.

It’s always a good idea to communicate on the app for as long as possible before moving to text or WhatsApp, where you will have to give out your phone number and may have more difficulty blocking someone if things don’t work out.

Dating apps give you control to block or report suspicious activity and allow you to make a measured judgement before progressing to the next stage of your relationship. If someone is keen to lure you away from the dating app quickly, be vigilant. One you’re communicating direct it’s harder to monitor or trace fraudulent behaviour.

The first date

If you’ve been having great conversations with someone and are ready to arrange your first date, be sure to choose a public place to meet, such as a bar or restaurant. This will help ease you into the date and relieve any concerns about being vulnerable.

By meeting in public, you are in control and can leave if the date starts to turn sour or your date isn’t quite who you expected them to be. In general, it’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your drinks and belongings as you would in a bar with friends, for example, and avoid leaving them unattended.

Finally, keep a friend or relative updated before and after the date, so that you can relax knowing someone is also looking out for you – and hopefully to tell them after about your fantastic date! 

STAY SAFE ONLINE

With technology playing an increasingly important role in our everyday lives, it’s no surprise that it’s now helping us in our love lives too. There are tons of couples who’ve met thanks to dating apps; using these safety tips will ensure you’re prepared for the best possible dating experience with them too.  

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The post Online dating. Red flags, instincts, and staying safe appeared first on Silver Magazine.