Sharing your Netflix password might seem harmless, but it comes with some dangers
Chances are that you've shared your Netflix account with someone else, or maybe you've been the recipient of a shared Netflix password. And while this is convenient and a handy way to save money, sharing your Netflix password is a risky move from a security standpoint.
Let's consider some of the security risks of sharing your Netflix password so you can make an informed decision about whether to do this.
1. It Increases Your Password Theft Risk
No matter who you share your password with, the act of sharing increases the risk of the password being compromised. Because you now have two (or more, if you share it with multiple people) people using the password, the attack surface is wider.
For example, if someone who uses your Netflix password falls for a phishing email and enters your password into the phony site, they've exposed your password. Now your password is in the hands of thieves, even though it wasn't you who fell for a scam.
2. It's Dangerous If You Use That Password Elsewhere
Even though it's one of the worst password mistakes, many people continue to use the same password on multiple websites. The risk of this is that if the password is exposed in a breach of one website, anyone who finds it will try the password on other sites using your email address. And if you've used it on sensitive accounts like your bank and email, you're in for a lot of trouble.
Combined with the increased vulnerability explained above, sharing your Netflix password when it's the same as your bank or other passwords is a terrible idea. What if the person you shared the password with knows your email and gets curious about the other places where you've used that password?
Hopefully trustworthy people won't do this, and you can negate a lot of the risk by using a unique password everywhere. But it's an increased threat if you're already following this irresponsible practice.
3. They Could Share Your Password With Others
If you share your Netflix password with someone else, what's stopping them from passing it onto another person? Maybe you have a Premium plan and can watch Netflix on four screens at once, or perhaps your friend works out a deal with their roommate where they take turns using your account.
You could feel perfectly fine about sharing your password with one other person, but that individual could pass your password onto several other people without your knowledge. This further increases the risk of that password becoming compromised.
4. You Could Get Locked Out of Your Own Account
When you give someone your Netflix password, you're not just allowing them to watch content on your dime. You're also giving them the keys to your whole account.
5. It's Technically Against the Rules
In early 2021, Netflix started warning people about password sharing, displaying a message that warned about using an account owned by someone you don't live with. This led many people to wonder whether Netflix might start cracking down on password sharing.
