Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ subscribers warned over password mistake that lets criminals steal your account
YOU might be making a dangerous mistake with your streaming services.
Cyber-experts have warned over a common password bungle that could leave you exposed.
Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ are a popular target for criminals.
Not only can they steal your log-ins to collect your info – but they can even lock you out of your account and sell them on.
Now experts at Keeper Security are urging all users to adopt a password manager to keep their log-ins safe.
"With more people streaming movies and TV shows on apps like Netflix and Hulu, and streaming music on apps like Spotify, more passwords are being created for all of those different streaming service accounts," explained Keeper Security's Aranza Trevino.
"The passwords created for each of those accounts should follow password best practices to prevent your streaming apps from getting hacked.
"Having to manage so many online accounts can be difficult, let alone having to remember the passwords for those accounts, which is where a password manager can help."
Part of the problem with streaming services is that most people typically use several.
And the temptation is to re-use passwords that you can easily remember.
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But this is extremely dangerous: re-using any password means that criminals who hack one account can then unlock others.
Similarly, if you're using simple passwords because they're easy to remember, that's also very dangerous.
Short and simple passwords can be "cracked" in a matter of seconds.
How to stay safe
One of the easiest ways to dodge this danger is by using a password manager.
These will often generate complicated and original passwords for you – and then save them for when you need them.
For instance, your Apple devices – including your – have iCloud Keychain built-in.
This lets you create and save complicated passwords for all of your accounts and services.
Similarly, Google Chrome also offers a password manager for your online log-ins.
Both of these password managers also have a bonus feature: safety alerts.
If one of your passwords has been compromised, iCloud Keychain and Google Chrome will now automatically warn you.
That way you can change the passwords to stay protected.
You should also avoid relying solely on passwords.
If any of your accounts offer two-factor authentication, you should turn it on.
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That way, you'll need a code – either sent over SMS or via an authenticator app – to log in.
So if a crook manages to get their hands on your password, they still won't be able to log in.