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Jamey Saldana
In less than 10 years, Netflix has grown into a $700 million DVD rental powerhouse, shipping more than 1.5 million DVDs a day to its base of 6.3 million subscribers. But the very systems that have made Netflix so successful -- everything from its sophisticated recommendation engine to a profit-maximizing formula that determines which subscribers get movies first -- have proven irresistible to hackers, who are constantly looking for new ways to crack, manipulate and reverse-engineer the company.
Most of us pay attention to the look of our Netflix home screen and the profiles that sit on one account. Up to five are allowed, but if you only have one or two and additional ones pop up, that's your first clue that someone has infiltrated your account. In some cases, profiles may have been deleted or altered.
Check with your crew of account sharers to see if anyone added or removed a new profile before you get alarmed. If no one in your inner circle (or their outer circle) is responsible for the new profile, delete it and set up a new password.
To delete a profile, you'll need to access Netflix on a web browser. Click on your profile icon and tap Manage Profiles. Select the rogue profiles and click Delete.
Next, check the watch history on your profiles. Is there a new TV show in your Continue Watching row? What about a set of new genres in your recommendations section? If you notice a fresh "Because You Watched" suggestion for a movie or series you never watched, there may have been a takeover. Again, ask around your circle first to make sure your mom or son didn't accidentally binge watch all those K-dramas or baking shows on your profile.
Netflix sends out an email alert when it recognizes a "new" device that signed in to your account. Typically, the company will provide information on the type of device and the location and date of sign-in. However, Netflix doesn't do this every time someone logs in, so it's up to you to periodically check this information. And in light of the password-sharing crackdown, be sure to set your main home as the primary viewing household on your account.
Log in on a web browser and navigate to your Account page. Click Manage Access and Devices under Security & Privacy to view where, when and how people have been streaming from your Netflix account. I once discovered that some stranger in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was enjoying the service on my dime (with a Fire TV Stick), which prompted me to immediately change my password. If you discover similar patterns on your account, it's time for a password update. We have some great tips for creating and protecting solid passwords.
Before you do that, head back to Security & Privacy and sign out of all devices to ensure that once you change your password, everyone has to log in from scratch. Don't forget this step if you've been traveling and using Netflix at a hotel or vacation rental.
It's likely you have Netflix on auto-renewal and therefore don't check the billing amount each month. It's time to take a peek at it to see whether you still have your chosen subscription plan. Follow this advice even if you learned your account was hacked and you canceled Netflix, because someone may still be streaming while you're being charged for it. Double check the cancellation and billing status.
It's imperative you change your password ASAP, before the trickster tries to log back in. Make sure your password is good, too. "123456" isn't going to cut it. Follow up by checking the rest of your credentials.
It's a good idea to check whether your email address has been compromised by visiting Have I Been Pwned. Type in your email or phone number and prepare to see if your information has been shared on the dark web. Receive some bad news about a breach here? Me too. A security breach is when your email, password, account name, credit card information or any other data stored on a website is illegally accessed by hackers and released to the public. Swap out your Netflix email address for one that hasn't shown up in the grimy digital underworld.
Note that when you change your email on your Netflix account page, you'll be prompted to have a code emailed to you to confirm your identity. Complete those steps to switch to your updated email address. However, if the account's email address now belongs to the hacker, you'll have to contact Netflix's customer service team to report it, or, as a last resort, cancel the account and start a new one.
Remind friends and family who live outside your household that you can transfer their existing Netflix profiles to a new account. Otherwise, these tips may put an end to their freeloading ways, too -- if you choose to avoid the password crackdown.
Netflix, a widely renowned streaming service, has gained tremendous popularity, amassing a staggering subscriber base of nearly 231 million worldwide. With steady growth spanning almost a decade, the platform has seamlessly integrated itself into the daily entertainment routines of countless individuals.
They simply log in, effortlessly resuming their favourite shows on their preferred devices. Unfortunately, as with any online service, Netflix accounts are susceptible to hacking, presenting an inherent risk associated with relying solely on usernames and passwords for protection. Falling victim to an account breach can be an unsettling, bewildering, and infuriating experience. In such circumstances, it is crucial to proceed with caution and avoid impulsive reactions that may exacerbate the situation, as finding oneself in this vulnerable state can lead to detrimental actions with far-reaching consequences.
This classic ruse aims to extract login credentials and perpetrate identity theft. Shockingly, hacked Netflix accounts fetch around $12 apiece on the dark web, further incentivising cybercriminals. The frequency of such phishing emails often desensitises users, prompting them to dismiss these communications, recognising the potential dangers associated with clicking on them. Exploiting this indifference, hackers bank on victims disregarding legitimate warnings from Netflix, indicating actual suspicious login attempts (perpetrated by the hackers themselves). Subtly biding their time without triggering any alarms, hackers patiently wait for the user to accumulate several ignored warning emails, setting the stage for a successful account takeover.
This sequence may repeat 2-4 times within a month, progressively conditioning the user to disregard subsequent Netflix warnings. Once the hacker perceives that the user has grown apathetic towards these notifications, they seize the opportunity to execute their plan. They surreptitiously add their own credit card details to the compromised account, enabling them to contact Netflix and provide verification under the guise of the legitimate account owner. Additionally, they may upgrade the subscription plan to a higher level, further benefiting from the account takeover. To obfuscate their tracks, hackers often replace user profile names on the account with numerical values (e.g., 1, 2, 3).
If you have suspicions of a compromised account, it is crucial to access the Netflix website directly from your browser rather than clicking on any links received through email, direct messages, or text messages. Attempt to log in using your regular password to determine if you still have control over your account.
In the event that you successfully log into your account, it is crucial to take immediate action by changing your password. Make sure to select a robust password that meets the following criteria: a minimum length of 10-12 characters, a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
It is vital to avoid using any variation of the compromised password. Refrain from incorporating any part of your previous password when creating the new one. By adhering to these guidelines, you enhance the security of your account and mitigate the risk of further unauthorised access.
If you find yourself still able to access your account and its settings, it is advisable to navigate to the payment methods section. Hackers frequently exploit this area by adding an additional payment card to the compromised account, which they later utilise for verification purposes when contacting Netflix support.
Therefore, it is essential to scrutinise the listed payment methods and promptly remove any unfamiliar or unauthorised cards. However, exercise caution when removing your own payment card, as doing so will require an alternative method of verifying your account with Netflix. To ensure a smooth transition, it may be prudent to initiate a call to Netflix support at this stage, seeking their guidance and assistance before taking any further actions.
It is a common practice for individuals to utilise the same or similar passwords across multiple accounts. Therefore, it is crucial to take proactive measures to protect your other accounts in the aftermath of a hacked Netflix account. Be sure to change the password for any other accounts that have been using the same or similar password as the compromised one.
By promptly updating passwords for these accounts, you significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access and potential breaches across various online platforms. Prioritising strong, unique passwords for each account is an essential step towards bolstering your overall digital security.
The group called Anonymous Sudan claimed responsibility for the breach on its Telegram channel, specifically citing Netflix's LGBTQ+ content as the reason. It claimed it brought Netflix down for 30 minutes in some locations and planned another hacking attempt at 1 a.m. Khartoum time (7 p.m. ET).
"Some of our members were unable to use Netflix on web and mobile on 28 Sep between 10:55 PM PT and 11:25 PM PT. Our engineers have since fixed the issue. We're so sorry for the inconvenience," the spokesperson told Newsweek.
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