Netflix is expanding its password sharing crackdown to more countries and it has caused a significant user exodus. According to a study by Kantar, Netflix lost over one million subscribers in Spain alone during the first quarter of 2023. A new report has now said that hackers are taking advantage of this situation.
This situation has created an ideal scenario for cybercriminals and numerous illicit businesses are selling Netflix subscriptions on the Dark Web, a report by Check Point Research, threat intelligence division of cybersecurity company Check Point, has said.
“Researchers have uncovered Telegram channels affiliated with these cybercriminal portals offering access to Netflix’s monthly Premium plan for as little as Rs 190 Indian rupees. These channels promote ‘full access effectiveness and legitimacy’ to entice potential buyers,” the report found.

The report also noted that the cybercriminals are selling Netflix accounts on Telegram and these are often linked to other cybercrimes. Most of these accounts are obtained from compromised credentials or breached accounts.
“These cybercriminals may not uphold their end of the bargain. Check Point Research has encountered instances where users either failed to gain access or had their access blocked after a few days, weeks, or months,” the report said.
How to keep safe from cybercrimes
Users can protect themselves from such cybercrimes.
Users can increase password complexity by utilising a combination of 14 to 16 characters comprising various letters (upper and lower case), symbols, and numbers. This will help safeguard your account against hackers.

Users should also avoid using personal data such as birthdays, names of themselves or family members, or easily discoverable information. Additionally, users must avoid reusing passwords across different accounts so that if a cyber attacker compromises one password, they cannot gain unrestricted access to all other registered services.
Users should never share passwords with anyone and if they detect any suspicious activity in their accounts, they should check for unauthorised access and immediately change their passwords.