How Netflix got Commenced
It’s a far cry from the company’s humble beginnings. The streaming service started in 1997 as a website that allowed people to rent DVDs online, get them delivered by mail, and return them the same way. From the beginning, it competed with the networks and cable for people entertainment time. But its real competition at that time was the established brick-and-mortar video rental business. And now, Netflix faces tough competition for programming and viewers from Amazon, Google, and Disney, among others. That’s the price it pays for breaking the mold for how television is made and watched.
Shielding Password Sharing
With more than 200 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is looking for ways to restraint password sharing for both business and security reasons. A new feature was spotted which prevents unauthorized users from accessing the account. If Netflix traces an individual trying to use an account without being the account owner, they’ll be asked to verify an account owner via text code or E-mail code. If the user doesn’t verify within a certain time period then he’ll be prohibited to access anything streaming on Netflix and rather, would be asked to make a new account.
A Netflix spokesperson told The Verge, “This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so.” Presumably, an account owner could share the code with friends but the main intention was to reduce password sharing. If anyone has got access to someone’s account spitefully then due to verifying stage, they’ll become forbidden to access the account. “Password sharing is something you have to learn to live with,” Hastings said. “There’s so much legitimate password sharing, like you sharing with your spouse, with your kids, so there’s no bright line, and we’re doing fine as is.”
Netflix’s Terms of Service states that all the content is “for your personal and non-commercial use only and may not be shared with individuals beyond your household.” This doesn’t actually bring any kind of clarity. Like what if a Family has kids living away from home and they’ve signed for a family plan. However, it seems like Netflix Inc. is trying to tackle password sharing issues as well as strengthen its security.
