If you have a Netflix subscription, you can share your login details with your friends and save them from having to purchase their own subscription. While this might seem like an act of kindness, it’s definitely not the best move from a security standpoint.
5
Your Account Won’t Fully Belong to You Anymore
Similar to many other streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix also lets you create multiple profiles on a single account. Specifically, you can set up to five profiles on one Netflix account. You can assign different profiles to different people using the account so that each person can have their own personalized viewing experience on Netflix.
However, if you share your Netflix password with someone who doesn’t live in your household, they’ll most likely watch Netflix using your profile, especially if your account already has five profiles and there’s no room to create another. Once they start watching content through your profile, Netflix will begin recommending shows and movies based on their viewing habits.
For instance, if you’re not a fan of anime but your friend is a hardcore anime lover like me, and they watch anime shows using your profile, you’ll start seeing more anime recommendations on your Netflix account. That’s probably the last thing you’d want, especially if you’re particular about the kinds of suggestions Netflix suggests to you.
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Use These 6 Tips to Protect Your Netflix Account
Make sure you know who is using your Netflix account.
4
Your Friend Could Share the Password With Someone Else
This actually happened to me. I shared my Netflix account password with one of my close friends, and without telling me, he shared the account information with one of his friends. I got to know about all this when I noticed a new profile had been created on my Netflix account.
Anyway, you definitely don’t want something like that to happen with your account. Plus, there’s no guarantee that the person your friend shared your Netflix account with won’t turn around and share your account details with someone else. If that happens, you could end up having your Netflix account information in the hands of two complete strangers.
3
Using That Password Elsewhere Is A Risky Move
Remembering passwords can be really tough. That’s why most of us simply end up using the same password across different platforms. While this definitely reduces the risk of you forgetting the password, at the same time, this also increases the chances of your account getting compromised.
Let’s say the person with whom you have shared your password also knows your other personal information, like your email address or phone number. If you’ve used the same Netflix password for more important accounts, like your banking app, that person could easily access your bank information if they wanted to.
I’m not suggesting you start doubting your friends or assume they would misuse your account information. It’s just that if your friend shares your account details with someone else, and that person also happens to get access to your email or phone number, they could do something harmful with your account.
2
Password Can Be Compromised In A Phishing Scam
Phishing scams are one of the most common types of scams these days, where scammers trick you into sharing your personal information. While you might take appropriate steps, like setting up spam filters or installing software to protect yourself, there’s no guarantee that the person you’re sharing your account details with is taking the same precautions.
If they fall victim to a scam, they could end up accidentally giving their account information to a scammer. This means your account details could be compromised through no fault of your own, and the scammer might use that information to steal even more of your data.
Additionally, the person you’re sharing your account details with might have malware hidden on their device. This malware could steal your passwords and share them with scammers online.
1
It’s Actually Against the Law
While sharing passwords is a common practice in many countries, states like Tennessee have laws that prevent residents from sharing passwords for media services like Netflix with others. Additionally, in May 2023, Netflix announced plans to crack down on password sharing in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and several other countries.
Under this new policy, only people who live in your household will be able to use your Netflix account. Netflix will determine whether someone lives in your household by using IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity from devices signed into the account. This approach is very similar to what other streaming platforms like Disney+ and Max are using to crack down on password sharing.
Once Netflix determines that a user doesn’t belong to the account holder’s household, it will offer three options to that user: stop using Netflix, purchase their own Netflix account, or become an extra member on the account they’re trying to access by paying an additional fee.
Definitely, choosing to become an extra member is the better option, but it’s only available if the account holder is subscribed to Netflix’s Standard or Premium plan. They can become an extra member on a Netflix account by paying $6.99 per month, which includes ads. If they prefer an ad-free experience, they need to pay $8.99 per month instead.
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Those are all the reasons why you shouldn’t share your Netflix password with anyone. Even after Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing, your account is still vulnerable to things like phishing attacks, losing your personal preferences on your Netflix account, and more, especially in countries like India, where the policy isn’t enforced yet.
That said, if you really want to share your Netflix account details with someone, make sure your Netflix password is unique. Also, ensure that the person you’re sharing it with has basic online security knowledge and has at least an antivirus program installed on their device.
