When it comes to streaming services, people have long skirted the rules on sharing passwords. For example, some people don't want to pay for full membership for just one show. Other folks think they don't watch often enough to need an ongoing subscription. Whatever the reason, password sharing for services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+ is quite common.
If you're among the 74% of people sharing a streaming password with at least one other person, don't forget to take basic cybersecurity precautions. Even if you feel like you can trust the person you're sharing with, streaming service passwords are among the most frequently stolen and most commonly sold on the dark web. Here's what you should know about protecting your shared passwords.
Safeguarding streaming passwords
Like most people, you probably struggle with common password pitfalls. It's not your fault, though. It's just a fact of human psychology. Instead of doing what feels easiest, though, you need to treat all passwords like critical pieces of information. So often a password is all that stands between your account and a cyber thief – which makes them incredibly important. First, make sure your password is long, unique, and random. That means at least 16 characters. Never use the same password for any other website or account. The password should be something nonsensical – never a word or an easily guessed phrase. A secure password is easy to create with a password generator. Use a password manager with a built-in password generator to create long and strong passwords. Once created, they will be stored in the password manager for easy access next time you're ready to log in to an account. Thankfully, most popular streaming services also offer two-factor authentication and other security features to add extra protection to your login. First, review all security settings available in your streaming account. Then, activate all possible security features. With two-factor authentication, cyber thieves are much less likely to impersonate you and gain access, even with a stolen password. Expert tip: Connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi network as your smart TV so you can use your LastPass mobile app to sign in to your streaming services instead of the more cumbersome route of directly typing on your TV.Sharing passwords safely
Before you share a password with someone, do a mental review. By sharing this password, what information could this person access, including credit card information, address, viewing history, and more? What if they fall for a phishing scam using your account information or have malware on their computer using your credentials? If you wouldn’t give them a key to your house, why would you give them access to your accounts? If you’re on the fence, pass on sharing. For many people in the same household, though, sharing passwords makes a lot of sense. But what doesn't make sense is compromising the security of the account in the process. This means no emailing passwords, texting them, or writing them down where others can easily find them. Instead, share a password through a password manager. That way, the account credentials are encrypted. Plus, only those explicitly given the password through the password manager can access them. If the password ever needs to be changed, the password manager makes it easy to generate a new password and sync the updates to all others with access to it. Not all providers approach sharing the same way, however. For example, Apple TV+ allows you to add up to five other accounts to share access across Apple services. Expert tip: Check your streaming services to see how many accounts you can add to share access. You may be able to share with more people than you think!What Netflix's "crackdown" means for sharing passwords
Netflix recently started rolling out location verification and "two-factor authentication" for users. Many are concerned that Netflix and other services are now cracking down on password sharing, but this development isn't necessarily bad. Given the popularity of stolen streaming logins and the company's desire to cut down on unauthorized access, these security measures can help users protect their accounts. Netflix reassured users that it's not cracking down on shared logins, at least for now. In the meantime, if you continue to share passwords for streaming services, we recommend following the advice above. For one thing, a password manager makes it a lot easier to create, keep track of, and sync shared passwords. Plus, no matter how much you trust the other person, sharing a password increases the risks to your passwords and streaming accounts. Doing everything you can to counteract that risk will save you a lot of time and headaches. A password manager like LastPass helps you build good password habits to log in quickly, keep out hackers, and share passwords safely when needed.Share this post via:
