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Home » Blog » Streaming with subtitles can be unsafe!

Streaming with subtitles can be unsafe!

Many people watch their favourite movies and series by streaming this footage. You don’t have to download anything when streaming movies and series, but you can start watching immediately without downloading. Handy, but not always safe. If you use subtitles during streaming, you run the risk of being hacked, as it has been found that streaming with subtitles can be unsafe.

Streaming with subtitles: susceptible to hacking

Not everyone adds subtitles when watching a movie or series, but many people do opt for this. If you watch a film or series with Dutch subtitles, you can often follow the story a bit better.

Adding subtitles works well and is nice and easy, but apparently, it’s not always safe. Security researchers from the Check Point company have found a way to hacking through the files that provide subtitles for various kinds of videos. Think of films, but also well-known series. This means that if you stream videos with subtitles, you are more at risk of being hacked.

Jaroslav
06/06/2023
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06/06/2023
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01/06/2023
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23/05/2023
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22/05/2023
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Various video players are vulnerable

Check Point researchers found that several video players are susceptible to the hacking problem. It concerns video players such as Kodi en Popcorn Time, but also the well-known video player VLC.

A video made by the researchers themselves shows how a file with an art extension is loaded onto a computer. This file is used to subtitle a movie while streaming. What you do not see when you download the subtitles of a film is that a code is being executed unnoticed. This code gives a hacker complete control over your computer.

Check Point: video players are too flexible

According to Check Point, the source of the vulnerability during streaming lies with the various video players. They want to support so many different subtitle formats that they attach less importance to the security of the different subtitle formats. This simply means that they are less critical and also support less secure subtitle formats. Incidentally, VLC has now made four separate updates that have solved the problem. Kodi and Popcorn Time are still working on updates to fix this new hacking problem.

Exact details about the vulnerability of the vulnerability have not been disclosed, but according to Check Point, hundreds of millions of video player users may be vulnerable to the vulnerability, even after the updates of VLC, for example. It is therefore important to be critical when streaming videos and series with subtitles.

Jaroslav
06/06/2023
Affordable and user-friendly VPN with a decent server network. Provides reliable encryption and privacy features for basic browsing needs
Serg
06/06/2023
Goose VPN is a reliable and user-friendly VPN service that offers strong security features and a straightforward interface. With servers in multiple countries, Goose VPN allows you to access geo-restricted content and browse the internet anonymously. The service uses robust encryption protocols to protect your data and has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring your privacy. Goose VPN's unlimited simultaneous connections feature is a great advantage, allowing you to protect multiple devices with a single subscription. If you're looking for a VPN service that is easy to use and provides decent security, Goose VPN is worth considering.
Luca Pagano
01/06/2023
Good VPN for good pricing, recommended!
Nick Ofman
25/05/2023
Gebruik al jaren goose en werkt altijd top!
Melvin de Graaff
23/05/2023
Zeer tevreden. Werkt goed op IOS.
Thomas Stoffer
22/05/2023
Ik gebruik GOOSE al jaren voor zowel streaming als browsen zonder enig probleem!

Streaming with subtitles unsafe: Protect yourself with a VPN

Even with the updates of VLC and the expected updates of Kodi and Popcorn Time, you are not completely safe when streaming movies and series with subtitles. To really protect yourself against hacking, we recommend that you take matters into your own hands. You do this by investing in a VPN or a Virtual Private Network (What is a VPN?).

A Virtual Private Network is a secure internet connection that only you use. If you use this internet connection, hackers cannot break into your system. In addition, a Virtual Private Network can also protect your data. This means that you can use the internet completely anonymously, without having to make any effort. If you use VLC, Kodi, Popcorn Time or another vulnerable video player with a Virtual Private Network, then you don’t have to worry about being hacked! This means that you can save yourself a lot of trouble simply by getting a Virtual Private Network.

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