NETFLIX’S password sharing crackdown can actually help users save cash and avoid bank-draining disaster, according to cyber experts.
It turns out there’s a whole hacked log-ins market on the dark web that could be about to fold following the move.
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“It’s clear that the crackdown on Netflix password sharing will shake up the thriving darknet market trade in hacked log-ins for the streaming service,” Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN.com, told The Sun.
“We can expect demand and prices for hacked log-ins to spike at first as buyers burn through stolen accounts as they get blocked.
“Depending on how ruthless Netflix actually is at policing password sharing, the market will eventually crater due to the limited shelf life of any hacked credentials.”
Only time will tell if the company is successful in enforcing its new rules, but Netflix has already started sending visual warnings to customers on their TVs.
The market for stolen accounts will still exist no matter what Netflix does, “as they will remain useful in the broader activity of identity theft even if they can’t be used to stream on the cheap,” Migliano added.
However, the account sharing ban is expected to take a fair amount of the wind out of cyber criminals’ sails.
So, there’s likely to be fewer attempts to steal Netflix accounts.
Account theft is also expected to grow much harder under the new rules.
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Ceri Shaw, chief product officer at digital skills platform CodeClan, explained how password sharing was undermining users’ security.
Despite the advice, many people still use the same or similar passwords for accounts on other platforms.
“We often forget or are unaware of which platforms are linked to things we don’t want to be shared, like bank details or other personal data,” she said.
“Avoiding password sharing significantly reduces the risk of your information being spread without your consent.
“You can also assure your cyber safety by varying your passwords, as more commonly used or easily predictable ones are susceptible to cyberattacks.”
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