[vik99]

Somethings you may want to try going forward to protect the Netflix account and more:

1. Use a stronger password. (Stanford University recommends "pass phrases" instead of passwords. Pass phrases are longer, but easier to remember than complex passwords, and if well-chosen can provide better protection against hackers. https://uit.stanford.edu/service/accounts/passwords)

2. Use a password manager. There is an interesting thread here on this forum on password managers here (Recommendations for a password manager) In case you find it a bit too complicated, you could just write the passwords down on a piece of paper and keep it safe.

3. Get yourself another bank account, transfer money to this account from your main account(IMPS, NEFT is now free for SBI at least) and use this Debit card for swiping at outlets, online transactions, link it to UPI for cashless payments etc. They key here is that this account wouldn't have much cash, perhaps enough for a week.
Or
4. As someone has already suggested, get a credit card, preferably with a low credit limit. Be watchful of transaction related SMS alerts. Report anything anomalous immediately. Unlike debit cards, credit card fraud is easier on the victim because your money isn't instantly debited as result of fraud. Raise a dispute immediately and in most cases things should sort themselves out.

5. Get a separate mobile number, use this number as the contact number for all financial accounts. Do not share this number with anyone else. Mobile number databases are sold by marketing companies to businesses for lead generation. Sometimes these databases fall into the hands of scamsters who then call up people under the pretence of offers for loans, sharing fake UPI links etc. So, if you are able to compartmentalise this part of your identity by having a dedicated mobile number to be used only for banking etc, you minimise the risk of being scammed. That said, there is no alternative to being alert when it comes to beating scammers.

6. If you use mobile banking apps, or online banking via phone, try to install only trusted apps on the phone. You may never know when that inane photo editing app may end up being malicious and steal banking credentials. Not every app that makes it to the office app store (Google Play, IPhone App store) can be trusted blindly, be watchful of the permissions apps require. There is no need for a torch app to know your location, is there?

7. Use multi-factor authentication wherever it is available. Ever noticed how entering the 3 digit code on the reverse side of a Debit card isn't enough these days to make a payment online? There's an OTP that's received through SMS that needs to be entered for the transaction to be completed, this is the most common example of multi-factor authentication. The first factor being the 3 digit CVV number that is printed on the back of the Debit card, and the second factor being the OTP received via SMS. This makes it impossible for people who nick Debit cards from misusing them unless they use the card on a website that doesn't ask for an OTP. 2 Factor authentication is offered by many websites including Gmail, Twitter and Facebook. It is better to enable it, especially for banking websites.

[nishsingh]

Originally Posted by GTO

Shame on Netflix for not having any sort of 2-factor authentication.

Yes, that's a bummer indeed.

One can, however, monitor where their Netflix accounts are being accessed from. Here's an example -




This can be accessed via:

https://www.netflix.com/AccountAccess

I do this quite often just to make sure nothing is amiss.

[kadanaJ]

Originally Posted by Sankar

did not want the hassle of auto renewals so this time I created and used a virtual card with just enough balance to cover for a month's subscription.

I also greatly dislike auto-renewals. How do you create a virtual card?

[Lobogris]

Originally Posted by kadanaJ

I also greatly dislike auto-renewals. How do you create a virtual card?

Several banks and payment apps allow you to do so. For example, you can do it via Airtel app using Airtel Payments Bank or HDFC Payzapp. You simply load the amount you need to the app and then click on virtual card or Payzapp card (whatever the app calls it) and they give you a Visa or MasterCard number with expiration date and cvc number on the app itself. You can then use this virtual card like any real card up to the balance you have loaded. You can obviously keep loading more money to reuse it.

[wankhade]

These hacked Netflix accounts are distributed free or some penny charges if you happen to glance through multiple telegram groups. Well, many of these are a bait, while some really do give out the accounts.

[mail2vm]

Even my account was hacked few months back. It was a total shocker for me as it was the first time - Someone from Turkey hacked it. They changed the password and the preferences with all Turkish programs.
I immediately called the help desk and informed about the situation, they reset the password for me. Nothing else happened, thankfully. Since then I keep a check on the access details.

[amoghchaphalkar]

My Netflix account has been compromised more than once. The nuisance stopped after I started using a complicated password (Courtesy: Dashlane)

[RMN]

Originally Posted by AltoLXI

The question is even if someone accesses my login to Netflix (email/password) can they change my email in the databases?

I guess they can cause the same thing happened to my fiance. Her account was accessed by someone from Brazil and they changed her email address. She got in touch with the support personnel and after verification (including the debit card number - no CVV though) they updated the email address and asked her to use the forgot password feature.

[SideView]

Originally Posted by RMN

I guess they can cause the same thing happened to my fiance. Her account was accessed by someone from Brazil and they changed her email address. She got in touch with the support personnel and after verification (including the debit card number - no CVV though) they updated the email address and asked her to use the forgot password feature.

I think this might be the way that she got hacked in the first place.

Maybe the debit card info was leaked and said person updated the email address and rest is history.

Best is to activate two factor authentication to avoid such issues.(not sure if netflix has that option)

[fache89]

It happened with me as well. I enrolled for the trial version, but did not use it much. After a month I try to login, but it would not let me. I chatted with their Customer Representative to finally have it fixed. I keyed in my card details. After that my email and password both were changed. On further probing, I learnt this is quite common. On Dark web, one can get hacked Netflix accounts for a fraction of a price. I learnt the lesson the hard way. On further analysis, I found somebody was using my Netflix in Colombia. I have cancelled my membership for now.

[spgv]

Mine account got hacked too. Not only that with the hacked account some payed 25K worth of netflix for a year(in Peru). Complaint to the bank immediately and averted the financial loss. Customers care exec. accepted that there was a server hack and as i insisted deleted my details from Netflix server. I wanted to pursue this matter and the laxity of Netflix, however has to let go as i was too tied up elsewhere.

[AdiSinghV12]

So one fine day I too get a notification that my account is hacked, and both my phone number and email has been changed. When I tried recovering my account it showed both my number and email ID invalid, but then I contacted the support chat and within 2 mins they recovered it after verifying my 'card details'. Big security flaw out there for sure

[NiInJa]

It seems my account has got hacked to, suddenly the subscription is changed from mobile to Basic (199 to 500). I saw it when I got a message that my credit card is debited 500 rupees to Netflix monthly renewal.

I am going to call the helpline tomorrow and see when someone changed my plan. This is just bad to be honest for such a good site. They don't even have two factor authentication it seems.

[Ithaca]

Originally Posted by nishsingh

Yes, that's a bummer indeed. This can be accessed via:

https://www.netflix.com/AccountAccess

I do this quite often just to make sure nothing is amiss.

Thank you for this tip. I will now start using this link, saved on my bookmarks bar, at regular intervals to find out for unauthorised usage.
Could you advise the flow chart of navigating to the above link.

Netflix Home Page >> Account
After going to the account page, what must I do.
Thanks in advance.

[nishsingh]

Originally Posted by Ithaca

After going to the account page, what must I do.

After you are in your account page, you can view your account usage by going to
SETTINGS > Recent device streaming activity



Hope this helps!