Encrypted by Cyber Security journalist and author Shigraf Ijaz
The popularity of online streaming has increased significantly in the last few years. Indeed, by 2024, the value of the global streaming market is estimated $ 688.7 billion. According to various trends, this popularity is not going away anytime soon.
While the streaming industry offers significant benefits to its users, cybercriminals are beginning to see it as a potential exploit. Of course, this may seem worrying to many because online streaming and cyber security are two things that rarely go hand in hand for many.
In fact, for many, the only concern when it comes to online streaming is getting a good movie or TV show. And while online streaming on free platforms is a known significant risk, many people take these concerns away when paying for popular streaming platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, and even Disney Plus. However, the cyber threat landscape is a rapidly evolving platform of cyber criminal activity. Modern cybercriminals have also been able to exploit this innocent form of entertainment for netizens.
How is cyber security a concern with paid streaming platforms?
Entertainment platforms have long been a lucrative system for cybercriminals to lure ordinary users. With millions of people embracing online streaming as their favorite pastime, cybercriminals are rapidly exploiting this innocent source of entertainment through malicious acts.
However, these activities were often only limited Free streaming platform For a long time until TV networks started appearing as streaming platforms. So, the streaming industry is now enriched with various platforms starting from Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu. However, this presence is not only good news for consumers. Cybercriminals also exploit these platforms and engage in criminal activities such as:
Malware
Because these streaming platforms have dedicated secure sources for download, cybercriminals are unable to infect these apps with malware. However, this does not stop them from exploiting these platforms. Sometimes, most of the threat actors embed the apk files of these applications Malware, Make them available online. Anyone who does not live in an area where these services are unavailable is forced to download these apps from these illegal sources, infecting their device with malware.
Hack Attack
Hack attacks are fairly common on these streaming platforms. As is clear from the Disney Plus hacking case, most hackers steal users’ login credentials to sell them further online. Also, hackers can hack user accounts to steal payment information and use it for financial gain.
Introduce spam and phishing attacks
Spam and phishing attacks are other common occurrences around these platforms. Threateners often launch phishing campaigns, emailing users to update their account payment details or forcing them to pay for new subscriptions. Like most common phishing emails, these emails create a sense of urgency among users and contain links to malicious websites. As users update their payment information, the threatening actor steals it, exploiting it for financial gain.
· Knock-off application.
Many threat actors create cheap or knock-off versions of these platforms, making them available online at low cost or for free. These knock-off versions are popular with people living in areas where these popular services are not yet available However, most of these apps often contain malware or spyware and are a tool for stealing people’s information. Stolen data is often sold on the Dark Web or used for other criminal purposes, such as identity theft.
Such attacks are relatively frequent and occur from time to time, such as when Disney Plus encountered a hack attack when it was launched. Hacker Disney Plus has stolen thousands of passwords and emails Users later sell them online for only $ 3- $ 11.
Moreover, Netflix and Hulu have often come under the radar of various threatening actors. According to Multiple studiesBoth platforms have faced hack attacks and certificate staffing attacks, compromising the privacy of their users.
Is it possible to be safe?
While this may sound daunting, users need to be careful when streaming online. However, a little caution can go a long way and help protect you from the worst possible consequences of these attacks. Some methods that can help users ensure long-term online security and safety, such as:
- It is very important to get subscriptions from official websites instead of paying for the commonly available “hacked accounts” as they are often misunderstood by malware.
- Make sure you are looking for a phishing campaign Any time you receive an email for payment renewal, check the email address closely and cross-check from the official website to ensure security.
- It’s a good idea to keep a strong password on account that is updated frequently to avoid hack attacks.
- To ensure password protection, it’s important not to share login credentials with friends and family If the password goes wrong, anyone can use the account to get payment information.
- Always be sure to download the application from a valid source. Many platforms like Hulu are unavailable in certain areas, and people often, while traveling, tend to download them illegally, which often leads to malware infections.
Since cybercriminals hide, there is a sure way to stay safe; However, following such precautions can significantly improve online security and privacy.
Last word
Cybercrime is a problem that unfortunately continues to grow. The cyber threat landscape is a huge platform that is constantly enriched with malicious activity. Among these, technological advances tempt actors to become sophisticated. Therefore, it is important to always implement strong cyber security.
Although online streaming seems to be relatively harmful, for cybercriminals, every connection to the online world is an opportunity to exploit. Streaming platforms are usually targeted by cyber criminals because they contain some sensitive information, such as payment details. Other than that, they are part of our device which is the key to our personal life. Therefore, it is best to ensure maximum safety and caution when using them.
About the author
Shigraf is an experienced cybersecurity journalist and author who specializes in disseminating knowledge about cyber and internet security. He has extensive knowledge of writing insights on online privacy, DevOps, AI, cybersecurity, cloud security and much more. His work relies on vast and in-depth research. He is also available at becrypted.com, privacycrypts.com venturebeat and csoonline.
[email protected], Twitter:Shigraf 3LinkedIn: Shigraf Ijaz MuckRack: Shigraf Ijaz ) And on our company’s website http://beencrypted.com/
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