Tips for safe streaming, how to avoid viruses

In recent years this era has been largely replaced by “streaming” services such as “Spotify”, “Apple Music” and others, which have conquered the music market. According to the “MIDiA” report, the global music subscriber base continues to grow rapidly, with 523.9 million music subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2021; an increase of 109.5 million (26.4%) compared to one year ago.

To help people enjoy content from risk-free streaming platforms, Kaspersky’s experts have compiled a short list of tips on how to safely use such services:

• It is important to have access to streaming platforms only with a paid subscription through the official website, or an application downloaded from an official app store. In addition, install applications for streaming services only from official digital portals, such as “Google Play”, or “App Store”, as applications from third-party sites may be infected with malicious files, which can damage users’ computers and steal personal information.
• See the release date of the application on the platform. Stores remove dangerous and counterfeit ones as a precaution; so scammers must constantly create new versions of “infected” applications. Users need to be careful if an app is new to the store.
• Beware of malicious rogue files disguised as “phishing” websites, which look like the original streaming platforms. Check if the site address starts with “https”, or —to verify the authenticity of the site— analyze the “URL”, or the company name on the site; sometimes scammers are not very careful and make typographical errors. An additional good step is to explore the “domain” registration details.
• Be wary of overly lucrative offers that seem unrealistic. For example, an offer for an annual free subscription for as little as $5, or for downloading a file, should raise suspicions, as it is most likely sent by fraudsters.
• It is also a safe practice to use complex and different “passwords” for each account you have on a “streaming” platform. To avoid remembering large passwords, users can use a “password manager” that stores all this data securely.
• Act with security in mind and do not open “links” attachments to “email” from “streaming” platforms, especially if the sender insists on opening the “link”. Official services do not usually require users to open links, so it is a safer practice to open the site manually in a browser. Use a reliable security solution that provides advanced protection against a wide range of attacks on all devices.
• If you are abroad, or want to access content from other sites, use a “VPN”. “Streaming” platforms tend to track their content, which means that users in Japan and the US are offered different series, movies and music. A “VPN” gives users access to more content and allows them to enjoy their favorite songs, or movies, while in other countries.

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