Netflix is by far the biggest video streaming company in the world. With over 69 million world subscribers, it’s popularity is undoubtable. No matter where you look, the Netflix icon is everywhere, including the remotes for our SmartTVs, and the app on our phones. According to Business Insider, lifetime accounts for Netflix are being sold by hackers for as little as 50 cents on the Dark Web. Not sure what that is? Read on.
The “Dark Web” is the underbelly of the internet that may only be accessed by using a special browser. Tools to do all kinds of things are available there, but we will not go in to them. As easy as Netflix is to use, there are users out there that will not pay attention to things recently watched. Perhaps they do not watch much, or pay attention to their account settings. Those are just the accounts that are likely to be sold on the dark web.
Have you ever noticed unusual items in your recently watched Netflix list? One of the writers for a popular computer website did. She assumed at first that it was a glitch, until she went to www.haveibeenpwned.com. The name is a reference to an old video game, but it is well known in the tech field. The site will give you an idea if your data has been breached or not. However, that may not help you if your information is being sold on the dark web.
Whether or not you “have been pwned” (pronounced poned), there is an easy way to secure your Netflix account.
- After logging in to your Netflix account, go to the portion of the dropdown menu that is aptly named “Your Account”.
- The third heading gives you the option to “Sign out of all devices”.
- Once you have completed that process, proceed to the “change password” link.
- Change your password. Make sure the new password is at least 8 characters. There are free strong password generators online. If you need to, write down the password for your own safekeeping.
This may seem like a bothersome task, but it is a quick and easy way to ensure account information is safe. In this modern age of hackers and data breaches, there are some simple things that can be done to protect ourselves. For the latest news, follow us @SmartDNSFan. If you currently live or plan to travel outside of the US, once you change your password, you can enjoy channels like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now, Showtime, and live sporting events from anywhere in the world by using a Smart DNS service.
