Over 7 million streaming passwords were leaked in 2024
Over 7 million streaming passwords were leaked in 2024
A new report indicates that millions of customers from Netflix and other streamers had their data leaked last year.
If there was ever a good reminder to change your streaming passwords, this is it. A new report from internet security firm Kaspersky, millions of streaming passwords were leaked on the web in 2024, serving as yet another reminder that consumers have to be proactive about protecting themselves online, especially with sites that hold their payment information.
Key Details:
- Big breach: Kaspersky found that more than 7 million streaming passwords were leaked last year.
- Not just Netflix: Passwords for Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, and other services hit the web.
- Not the first time: Roku also had a major data breach in 2024.
The report from Kaspersky indicates that more than 7 million streaming passwords were leaked in 2024. Passwords from sites like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and other streamers have hit the web, exposing consumers all over the world to possible identity theft, or worse.
These passwords were not stolen directly from the streaming sites themselves, but were collected as part of larger credential theft operations. Netflix saw the most passwords compromised, with 5.6 million breached accounts detected by Kaspersky.
Brazilian Netflix customers saw the highest amount of exposure, followed by Mexico and India. France, South Korea, Great Britain, and Germany were also countries that were at least moderately affected by these security failures, but the data makes clear that viewers around the world have been compromised.
Click chart to expand.
Disney+ had more than 680,000 accounts leaked, and Prime Video experienced a leak of more than 1,600 passwords. The malware attacks behind these leaks may have collected cookies, credit and debit card details, and more sensitive information embedded in the accounts.
There were other data breaches in 2024 that made headlines at the time. In April, it was revealed that nearly 600,000 Roku customers had their accounts hacked in a large-scale leak, and in hundreds of cases, thieves made unauthorized purchases using the data they collected.
Using any online service exposes one to criminal activity, and users have to be proactive about protecting their data. Changing passwords often may be a bit of a hassle, but it’s also a wise policy, especially in light of the news that more than 7 million streaming passwords were leaked around the globe last year alone.
Prime Video
Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.