Netflix has been hacked — here’s how to know if your account has been compromised
Alright, guys. It’s time to do what we were born to do: protect our Netflix accounts from the evil clutches of the “Dark Web.”
Yup, that’s right. There’s actually a virtual place called the Dark Web and it’s well… dark. Specifically, it’s a scary place on the Internet that can only be accessed with special browsers, ones that allow your IP address to remain unknown. Aside from being home to marketplaces that sell illegal products, the Dark Web is also full of cheap subscription services.
A cheap subscription service?! That sounds great! is what you may be thinking right now. So, what’s the problem? Well, it turns out that these Netflix, HBO, and Spotify-type accounts have been hacked. In other words, someone can actually steal your login information and sell it as a lifetime subscription for less than a dollar. Some hackers are so dedicated to the whole “lifetime subscription” thing that they’ll also combine stolen credit card and account details to make sure your account stays active – even if you try to shut it down or stop paying for it.
“We found pretty much everything possible available for sale [on the Dark Web],” Intel Security’s vice president Raj Samani told Tech Insider. “Every possible service and every possible flavor you could think of was being made for sale.” Some of the Dark Web’s marketplaces surprisingly have their very own help desk, so their customers feel safe when making a transaction. (Although, that does seem like a contradiction… considering they’re on the Dark Web.)
To find out if you’ve been hacked, you can go to this website and type in the e-mail address you use for Netflix (or one of your other subscription services). Also, if you notice that your Netflix account is showing some unusual “recently watched” programs, then definitely check to see if your account has been compromised.
Next, you can change your password. After you do so, go to the My Account page and then click Sign out of all devices, which is under the Settings heading. This will kick out all of the people who’ve been using your account. If you share your account with someone else, remember to give them the new password – preferably in person.
Luckily, Netflix doesn’t divulge a user’s credit card information, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that. Just make sure to change your password for other websites, especially if the password is the same as your previously hacked Netflix one.
Samani also recommends that everyone use a unique, strong password and two-factor authentication that requires you to have a backup form of credentials. In this case, it’s 100% better to be safe than sorry.
Overall, the moral of the story is: be super careful about sharing your info. Because no one wants to see their personal details end up on a place called the Dark Web.
[Image via Shutterstock]
