Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by consumers.
The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.
Re-activateDon’t have an account?
My account
Other Membership Benefits:
Suggested Searches
Cars
Car Ratings & Reviews
Car Buying & Pricing
Car Maintenance & Repair
Key Topics & News
Home & Garden
Bed & Bath
Lawn & Garden
Home Improvement
Home Safety & Security
Appliances
Small Appliances
Laundry & Cleaning
Heating, Cooling & Air
Electronics
Home Entertainment
Home Office
Smartphones & Wearables
Digital Security & Privacy
Take Action
Release date 01/29/2015
YONKERS, NY ― Streaming media services are quite popular: 51 percent of American households say they subscribe to Amazon Prime Instant Video, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and/or WatchESPN, according to a December 2014 survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. However, the reach of streaming video services extends beyond that, as 46 percent of account holders admitted to sharing their log-in credentials with someone outside their home.
Netflix subscribers were the most charitable, with 46 percent admitting they shared their password. Hulu Plus was next with 37 percent, followed by Amazon Prime with 29 percent. The sample sizes for HBO Go and WatchESPN were too small to report percentages.
Consumer Reports investigated and found that it’s unclear whether people who widely share log-in credentials are breaking criminal laws, at least outside of Tennessee, which outlawed the practice in 2011. Some violations of online terms of service could potentially violate federal criminal laws. But the language in those agreements can be ambiguous, CR found.
“What’s interesting about the widespread sharing of streaming account passwords is how seemingly unconcerned the companies are about it – for now," said Glenn Derene, Electronics Editor for Consumer Reports.
Most streaming services let multiple household members watch programs on their own devices, whether they are home or on the road. Consumer Reports has the following rules of thumb:
Definitely OK. Sharing your log-in credentials with family members living at home. Accessing your content on multiple devices.
Probably fine. Sharing log-in credentials with your kids living at college or on their own.
To be avoided. Broadly sharing credentials with acquaintances. For your own digital privacy, don’t use the same password for your streaming account that you use for e-mail, Wi-Fi, or other services.
Assuming streaming providers eventually decide to crack down on password sharing, it will be easy for them to do. HBO, for example, allows up to three concurrent content streams; engineers could throttle that back. Or they could force users to register a limited number of devices for use with their streaming service.
The full report can be found online at ConsumerReports.org, and in the March 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2015 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 80 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
© 2015 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports® is an expert, independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to work side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports® magazine, ConsumerReports.org® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our prior written permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent unauthorized commercial use of its content and trademarks.