The popularity of OTT platforms has skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As consumers retreated indoors to stay safe from the novel coronavirus, they turned to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming services.
The downside to this phenomenon is that streaming media services have now caught the attention of cybercriminals. For example, in March 2021, ZEE5 – one of India’s leading OTT platforms – was embroiled in a data breach. The breach exposed the personal information of 9 million users, including their names, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Leading OTT service providers, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, have also been involved in similar data breaches.
To begin with, users don’t treat their OTT login credentials with the same gravity as their online banking details and other sensitive information. They often log into multiple devices and even use the same password to sign-up for different video streaming services.
Many users also share their login credentials with their friends, coworkers, and family members. That makes it easier for cybercriminals to hack into their accounts using various bots and brute force attacks. OTT platform users are also prone to fall prey to phishing attacks.
Hackers could also tamper your platform’s second object (SO) files and gain unauthorized access to exclusive content. In addition, app forgery, reverse engineering, and malware attacks are also known to affect OTT platforms.
Any cyberattack that results in a data breach could expose sensitive information, including your customers’ credit card numbers and bank details. Cybercriminals could also access and manipulate your app’s source code to collect user data and sell it on the dark web.
Apart from jeopardizing user safety through identity theft, such attacks also undermine your OTT platform’s reputation and credibility. This, in turn, will affect customer trust, increase customer churn, and take a toll on your revenue.
Similarly, tampering of SO files and reverse-engineering attacks can result in further loss of revenue. Hackers could even leak premium content online or sell it at a discounted price. That’s why it has become imperative for today’s streaming service providers to implement suitable cybersecurity protocols to safeguard user data and revenue.
Developing cybersecurity protocols for your streaming media service involves protecting the following entities:
One of the most effective ways of protecting the personal information of users is to implement SSL encryption. You can also leverage end-to-end encryption for enhanced security. Additionally, it’s a good practice to educate users about various cyberattacks and best practices for setting strong passwords.
Implement multi-factor authentication to confirm the identity of a user every time they log into your platform. Also, use reCAPTCHA evaluation to prevent bots from accessing your platform.
It’s a good idea to provide users with a seamless login experience using password-less authentication through social media profiles, OTPs, magic links, and biometrics. It secures their accounts while eliminating the need to set and remember complex passwords.
When protecting your content against piracy, it’s crucial to use a secure video hosting provider, like MAZ Systems. Also, conduct cybersecurity training and awareness programs for your team. Finally, restrict access to content files and take multiple backups.
Image via MAZ Systems
Depending on how you’ve developed your OTT platform, you can use various techniques to protect the source code. Perform thorough risk assessments to identify the most common threats to your platform. Use the information to outline a business continuity plan in the event of a cyberattack.
Cybersecurity measures have become indispensable to modern OTT platforms. Data breaches, piracy, and reverse-engineering attacks can adversely affect your reputation as an OTT service provider. Focus on protecting customer data, premium content, and the source code of your platform.
Are you looking to build a secure, user-friendly, and feature-rich OTT platform? Contact us to schedule a demo of MAZ Systems and get the ball rolling.
