Since February, Netflix has ended one of its most popular features in Portugal (and beyond): shared accounts with users who do not live in the same house. And the numbers reveal that users are reluctant to pay for individual account plans.
In Spain alone, Netflix will have lost more than a million subscribers during the first quarter of 2023. And data from Check Point Research reveals that this is an ideal scenario for cybercriminals.
“Cheap” Netflix accounts are often associated with cybercrime
This source identified numerous illicit companies selling Netflix subscriptions on the Dark Web. Investigators report Telegram channels affiliated with cybercriminal portals that provide Netflix’s monthly premium plan for around 2 euros per month.
Example of selling a Netflix account on Telegram. Image: Check Point Research
These channels promote the “efficiency and legitimacy of full access” in order to attract potential buyers. But you should bear in mind that accounts sold through these portals are often linked to other computer crimes.
“Most of these accounts are obtained from compromised credentials or breached accounts”, can be read in the investigation. In this way, cyber criminals offer significantly reduced prices, thus gaining full profits without incurring any costs.
And there is always the risk that those on the other side will not do their part. Check Point Research claims that there are cases where users were unable to gain access or saw their access blocked after a few days, weeks or months.
4 tips for security on Netflix:
In view of the identified issues, Check Point Software has shared suggestions for you to ensure the security of your Netflix account. These are essentially based on improving passwords.
Long and diverse passwords: Increases password complexity by using a 14 to 16 character combination of multiple letters (upper and lower case), symbols and numbers.
Memorable but hard to guess: Avoid using personal data such as birthdays, first or family names or easily detectable information. What may be easy for the user may also be accessible for cybercriminals.
Unique passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts. If a cyber attacker compromises a password, he gets unlimited access to all other registered services, which can cause more significant damage. Consider using a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords.
Keep passwords private: Never share passwords with anyone or keep them near your computer, including digital files. Uses password management tools for secure storage.
If you detect the appearance of new profiles or the reproduction of unusual content on your account, you should check for unauthorized access and immediately change your password.
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