Netflix is one of the most popular and well-known streaming services, boasting nearly 231 million subscribers worldwide. Its popularity has steadily grown over the past decade, becoming an essential part of many people’s daily entertainment routines. With just a few taps on their devices, subscribers can log in and immerse themselves in their favorite shows. However, the convenience of Netflix comes with certain risks, and one of them is the potential for a Netflix account hack. Like any online service, Netflix accounts can be vulnerable to hacking due to their reliance on username and password protection. Despite the platform’s efforts to maintain security, users must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard their accounts from unauthorized access.
If you experience an account hack, it can be shocking, confusing, and infuriating. You may not know exactly what to do and may react without thinking first. This is a dangerous space to be in because it can cause you to do things that only make things worse.
In this article, we’ll give you the steps to take when you suspect someone has hacked your Netflix account. Let’s first cover how hackers typically operate when deploying an account takeover.
How Does a Netflix Account Hack Typically Work?
Phishing overload is a problem that hackers take advantage of in these types of breaches, including the dreaded Netflix account hack. People receive fake emails all the time that spoof brands like Netflix, and unfortunately, Netflix account hack attempts are becoming increasingly common. One common phishing ploy is an email stating, “There has been suspicious activity on your account,” which is designed to deceive and panic users. The email will include a link to log in to a spoofed site that looks like the brand’s normal login page, but in reality, it’s a trap to steal your login credentials, leading to a potential Netflix account hack.
Hacked Netflix accounts typically go for $12 each on the dark web.
Due to the overwhelming volume of these phishing emails, individuals have become somewhat desensitized to them, often disregarding their potential danger. Unfortunately, this plays right into the hands of the hackers, who capitalize on the fact that people tend to ignore even legitimate emails from Netflix warning about suspicious logins.
Hackers capitalize on this psychological response and adopt a patient approach. They remain low-key and don’t take immediate action that would lock you out of your account. Instead, they wait for you to receive a few more of these emails, hoping that you’ll completely ignore them. Once they sense that you’re less vigilant, they pounce on the opportunity to attempt a takeover of your Netflix account, making the Netflix account hack a reality you may have never anticipated. Staying vigilant and double-checking email sources can go a long way in protecting yourself from such nefarious attacks.
Accounts hacks can go in various ways. Here is one typical scenario of a Netflix hack:
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- The account owner gets an email about a suspicious login. Often it will be from a different country.
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- They may log into their Netflix account to see if there are any unknown devices logged in. Usually, none will show yet. The hacker logs back out. The goal is to get you to check and see that nothing is wrong, and assume the real notice is phishing.
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- This same scenario may happen 2-4 more times in the span of a month.
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- Once the hacker feels the user is ignoring the Netflix warnings, they’ll make their move.
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- They add their credit card to your account. This is so they can call Netflix and give them a method of verification.
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- They may increase your subscription plan to a higher level.
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- They also usually replace any user profile names on your account with numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.)
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- At this point, the account owner will typically receive an email. It will note a change in account information. This could be the account email, password, phone number, etc.
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- The hacker is now trying to lock the account owner out of their account.
What Do You Do If Someone Has Hacked Your Netflix Account?
1. Go to the Netflix site & try to log in.
If you suspect a hacked account, visit the Netflix site directly from your browser. Do not go through a link you received via email, DM, or SMS.
See if you can log in using your password. You may be able to if you caught the hacker before they’ve locked you out. If not, then skip to Step 4 below, calling Netflix support.
2. If you can log in, change your password immediately.
If you can log into your account, change the password right away. Ensure it’s a strong password that is at least 10-12 characters in length. It should also include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Do not use a variation of the breached password. You should not use any part of your old password to create the new one.
3. If you can log in, remove any strange payment methods
If you can still access your account and settings, go to the payment methods area. Often hackers will add another payment card to your account. They use it to verify the account to Netflix support.
Remove any strange payment method that is not yours. But if you remove your own payment card, you will need another way to verify your account with Netflix. So, at this point, you may want to call before you do that.
4. Call Netflix support. (Don’t skip this step)
Everyone’s experience may be different. Some users that have gone through a hack have praised the fast and helpful support from Netflix.
Contact Netflix support whether you have or have not succeeded in logging in. There may be things the hacker has done that you aren’t aware of. They may have changed subscription information.
Let the support representative know you think you’re the victim of an account hack. They’ll walk you through the process of undoing what the hacker has done.
5. Watch your bank statements.
Continue to watch your bank statements for any unusual charges. You should do this after any account hack.
6. Change the password for other accounts that used the same one as your Netflix account.
People often use the same or the nearly same password for several accounts. Make sure to change the password for any accounts that used the one that was just hacked.
Secure Your Passwords and Accounts with I.T. ISIN Solutions
Instead of waiting until you fall victim to a hack, it is prudent to proactively secure your passwords and online accounts. At I.T. ISIN Solutions, we offer comprehensive password security solutions tailored to your specific needs. Schedule a chat with us today to learn more about protecting your online presence from malicious actors. Don’t wait until a hack happens to you.
This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.