In recent years, streaming online movies and TV shows has become a popular trend. The whole concept of entertainment has been changed today, and the latest upsurge in the streaming platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime is the visible evidence of how entertainment practices have been changed globally.
Undoubtedly, online streaming has many benefits, but it also has some dangerous online threats. In this blog, I will cover all the possible online risks that one could encounter while streaming online movies and TV shows.
What are the potential streaming threats?
Post-pandemic, media consumption has changed and follows new content experiences.
By June 2020, alone in the USA, almost 48% of adults have subscribed to online streaming services, and the percentage keeps growing every year.
With such a great number of users, online streaming platforms have become a primary target for hackers.
Hackers use unsafe online streaming platforms to store malware into devices and steal users’ private information for various nefarious purposes.
Tracking your data is extremely easy for hackers; when you stream online content, your IP is visible to everyone. Once the hacker accesses your IP address, they can use it against you and will track your information.
Another high-risk involved during online streaming is clicking on the ad popup. When you stream content from unknown sources, you will notice that various advertisements will display on your screen. Some ads may contain malware, and when you click on it, the malware silently hides in your device and infects it.
Are all streaming sites unsafe?
Not all streaming sites are unsafe and malicious. For example, streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime are somewhat secure as these sites are paid and don’t support advertisements. However, these streaming sites are also not 100% secure since they have your data which they can use for promotional purposes.
All in all, compared to paid streaming services, free sources are more unsafe and can disrupt your data privacy.
How to stream safely online?
Above, you have read about the risks associated with online streaming. Now, let’s understand the best ways to stream safely online.
Firstly, always connect to a trusted VPN service before streaming online movies and TV Shows. There are a couple of reliable VPN services that offer good discounts that you can avail yourself right now.
A VPN is an essential tool that you must use while using the web. It encrypts your traffic; hence, no one can access it.
Besides strong encryption, a VPN keeps your online identity private by concealing your real IP address. You can also select an IP address of your selected region, and it will help you to access region-blocked content in just a few seconds.
Apart from using a VPN, there are more tricks that you should follow to ensure a safe and secure streaming experience.
Try not to click any unknown links as they may contain malware. Also, it’s better to subscribe to paid and reliable streaming services instead of using free sources.
Lastly, turn off your location and automatic sharing options since it might leak your information. You should keep a check on your device’s privacy settings for maximum security. Also, try to avoid accepting cookies as it also may be a cause of concern. Cookies are small files that websites store on your computer to enhance your overall user experience.
Although these files are safe, allowing their access to your device can be dangerous.
It’s worth mentioning that by following all the listed security tricks, you will ensure a safe and secure streaming experience. Keep in mind that among all the listed tricks for safe and secure streaming, connecting a VPN is the best.
Conclusion
Streaming movies is undoubtedly great, but you have to limit your sharing practices to keep your security at the top. Always update your privacy settings, don’t click unknown links, use paid streaming services, and always use a trusted VPN to curb maximum online threats while watching movies and shows.
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