OTT App Security: What are the Threats and Best Practices, and Why is it Important to Block Them?

Here’s an uncomfortable truth:

80% of OTT platforms suffer from security breaches or instances linked to piracy, which cost them millions of dollars in revenue losses and permanently harm their brand reputation. 

Streaming platforms are the foundation of business, education, and entertainment apps in today’s society. Thus, these security flaws are not only annoying but also expensive. Hackers, pirates, and cybercriminals have begun targeting custom OTT platform development, posing a threat to your user data, content, and revenue streams.

Risks range from security breaches and content theft to account hijacking and subscription fraud. However, the most surprising aspect is that most OTT app development platforms are still not adequately secured, making them open to these kinds of attacks.

So, how to secure OTT apps from piracy? However, there is still time. 

The blog will examine the following sections:

• The main OTT app security threats currently faced and how they affect your company.
• The best practices for OTT app security are for protecting user information and content.
• Why OTT app security is an essential part of your company strategy, and not just a technical problem.

Why Is OTT App Security Crucial for Your Business?

1. Protecting Revenue Streams

• Unauthorized access and piracy:

• The financial stability of OTT platforms is seriously threatened by content piracy and illegal access.
• Cybercriminals have a greater opportunity to exploit security flaws as the consumption of digital information continues to increase.
• By avoiding subscription models, illegal streaming and content theft might result in a significant loss of revenue.

• Impact of Content Piracy:

• • Paid subscriptions are undermined by pirated content shared on unauthorized websites or applications.
  • Piracy hinders monetization strategies and lowers the platform’s revenue-generating capacity.

Real-world case studies demonstrate how significant this problem is:

• • Netflix Security Incident: Following a security breach in 2016, Netflix incurred substantial financial losses as hackers gained access to exclusive material before its official release.
  • OTT Platform Breach: A well-known OTT platform experienced a breach when hackers took advantage of a weakness to distribute premium material through unauthorized streaming channels, which led to a decline in subscribers.
  • Examples of Content Piracy: Millions of dollars in lost revenue frequently result from the unauthorized streaming of popular films or exclusive television shows on third-party apps.

• Security Steps to Preserve Income:

• • Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions guard against unauthorized dissemination of content.
  • Both visible and invisible watermarking techniques aid in the detection and tracking of unlicensed content.
  • By adding layers of security, these steps make it more difficult for unauthorized people to access or share content.

2. Safeguarding User Data

It is crucial to educate users to improve OTT security:

• User Security Awareness: Platforms should notify users on a regular basis about potential risks and security best practices.
• Phishing Protection for OTT: It’s critical to provide instructions on how to spot phishing efforts and steer clear of nefarious emails or websites.
• Safe Streaming Practices: To reduce the risk of exposure to malware and piracy, encourage users to stream from official apps and avoid third-party websites.
• Account Protection Tips: To prevent unwanted access to their accounts, users should be advised to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

• Importance of User Data:

• User data, including viewing history, financial details, and personal preferences, is crucial for OTT platforms. It not only drives personalized content recommendations but also helps in enhancing user experience, improving platform performance, and ensuring compliance with regulations. 
• Because custom OTT solutions retain valuable data, they are often targeted by cybercriminals.

• Impacts of Data Breach:

• Both monetary losses and harm to one’s reputation may arise from a data breach.
• The average cost of a data breach globally increased by 10% from the previous year to $4.88 million.
• Loss of subscriptions, negative publicity, and diminishing customer trust are all examples of long-term harm to client loyalty.

• Security Procedures to Protect User Information:

• Implement encryption protocols for data both in transit and at rest, ensuring that sensitive user information is inaccessible to unauthorized parties. 
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): To further safeguard user accounts, add a layer of protection.
• CCPA and GDPR Compliance: Ensure your platform meets the requirements of data privacy laws.

3. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

OTT Security Framework

OTT platforms should include a tiered security architecture to safeguard user data and guarantee compliance. This strategy entails putting in place several defenses, ranging from access control to encryption.

• NIST for OTT: Utilise the cybersecurity architecture developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which helps platforms implement adequate security measures for their applications.
• Cybersecurity Roadmap: To regularly update and enhance the platform’s security safeguards, create a clear cybersecurity roadmap.
• OTT Risk Management Framework: To detect, evaluate, and lessen security risks while maintaining business continuity, develop a risk management framework.

• Increasing number of data protection regulations:

• • OTT platforms must comply with regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
  • Severe penalties, including costly fines and legal repercussions, may result from noncompliance of legal regulations.

• Regulatory Requirements Examples:

• • GDPR: Penalties of up to €20 million or 4% of yearly worldwide sales, whichever is greater.
  • Regulatory agencies are increasingly targeting OTT platforms that fail to secure user privacy adequately.

• Adjusting to Changing Laws:

• OTT platforms must update their security procedures in line with evolving data protection standards.
• Ensure that user data handling, storage, and processing receive ongoing attention and oversight.
• Get the user’s express consent before collecting their info.

What Are the Common OTT App Security Threats?

OTT apps face a wide range of safety concerns that can harm both their revenue and public image. These hazards are continually growing as cybercriminals get more sophisticated. Addressing these dangers is crucial for ensuring that OTT app development companies in India can effectively protect their content, user data, and infrastructure.

1. Piracy and Content Theft

Pirated Content Distribution: 

One of the most significant challenges to an OTT platform is the distribution of pirated content. Pirated content is sometimes disseminated unlawfully on websites or apps, bypassing the OTT platform’s subscription model and incurring a direct loss of income. 

Piracy affects the business model of subscription-based platforms and hinders content creators’ potential to monetize their intellectual property.

Types of Piracy:

• Screen Recording: This involves recording content directly from the screen and distributing it without permission.
• Illegal Streaming: Pirates typically use unauthorized websites to broadcast copyrighted content for free, thereby bypassing membership costs and legal channels.

Impact: Piracy not only affects revenue but also harms the brand’s reputation, as clients may begin to question the value of paid subscriptions when free, unlawful options are available.

2. Data Breaches and Privacy Violations

Cyberattacks Targeting Sensitive Data: 

OTT platforms are a prominent target for cybercriminals because they store critical user data, including payment information, viewing history, and personal details.

It is more important than ever to preserve this sensitive data due to the growing sophistication of cyberattacks.

High-Profile Data Breaches: OTT platforms have experienced high-profile data breaches that have attracted significant media attention and had devastating effects for the participating companies. 

Users may be exposed to additional threats, such as identity theft, if a breach results in stolen user data, which is frequently sold on the black market.

Impacts: In addition to monetary losses, a breach’s reputational harm may lead to a loss of clients, bad press, and user mistrust. OTT service providers must prioritize data protection measures to maintain customers’ trust amid growing privacy concerns.

3. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks

What is a DDoS attack? 

DDoS attacks occur when malicious actors overload the servers of an OTT platform with excessive traffic, leading to service interruptions. This results in downtime and service interruptions by preventing authorized users from viewing the material.

Effect on User Experience: By rendering the platform unavailable for extended periods, DDoS attacks can negatively impact the user experience. Users are less inclined to renew subscriptions or refer the site to others if they constantly face disruptions or subpar service.

Service Reliability: Constant DDoS attacks raise concerns about the dependability of an OTT service, which could lead to customer attrition and lost revenue.

4. Account Hijacking and Subscription Fraud

Cybercriminals frequently target user accounts and exploit stolen identities to gain unauthorized access to content and subscription services. The criminal may exploit the compromised account to gain access to premium material or even sell the login details to other users to avoid paying subscription fees.

Subscription Fraud: By sharing accounts with multiple individuals, some users may commit fraud, causing the platform to incur financial losses. This type of account sharing fraud results in the misuse of the platform’s services. This impacts not only the user’s income but also the authenticity of their experience.

Implications of Fraud and Account Hijacking:

• Revenue Loss: Lost subscriptions and lower revenue are the results of fraudulent access and account takeovers.
• Damage to Brand Reputation: If users believe that accounts can be easily stolen or that access to premium content can be shared illegally, they may lose trust in the site.

How to Secure OTT Apps from Piracy and Content Theft?

Protecting OTT apps against piracy is crucial for preserving your content and revenue. The key to reducing these dangers is putting strong security mechanisms in place, such as DRM, watermarking, and securing through live streaming app development companies.

1. Implementing Digital Rights Management (DRM)

What is DRM?

A group of technologies known as digital rights management (DRM) are used to restrict access to digital content. DRM makes sure that only paying consumers can view content by preventing its illicit use, distribution, and access. It is one of the most effective strategies for preventing piracy of premium content on OTT platforms.

The Significance of DRM:

Your content is susceptible to theft or unauthorized dissemination if DRM is not used. Unauthorized users may be able to easily access or share your media if cybercriminals employ techniques to get around security safeguards. DRM enforces usage limits to ensure that only authorized users can access your content.

DRM Technology Examples:

• PlayReady: Microsoft created PlayReady, a popular DRM technology that enables OTT services to safeguard content and make sure only authorized users can access it.
• Widevine: A DRM technology supported by Google that is frequently used to safeguard live video applications on various platforms, including mobile apps and smart TVs.
• FairPlay: Integrated within its ecosystem, Apple’s DRM solution provides robust security for streaming video material on Apple TVs and iOS devices.

2. Watermarking Technology

Watermarking: Visible and Invisible

Another crucial security feature that helps OTT companies track down the origin of stolen content is watermarking. This method simplifies the identification of the original distributor or customer who leaked the content by embedding distinctive, identifying information into the video stream.

• Visible Watermarking: Adding a visible logo or text to the content—typically in the form of a semi-transparent overlay—is known as visible watermarking. Although this can discourage piracy, pirates can crop or alter the watermark, making it less effective.
• Invisible Watermarking: A more sophisticated method is invisible watermarking, in which the watermark is incorporated into the material in a way that the user cannot see it. Even if the watermark is removed, it can still be extracted to determine the source of stolen content.

Types of Watermarking Technologies

• Forensic Watermarking: By assigning a unique watermark to each user, forensic watermarking enables the identification of the origin of illicit information. By identifying the offender, the spread of leaked content is minimized.
• Dynamic Watermarking: During the streaming session, the watermark can be dynamically changed, making it more difficult for pirates to remove or circumvent.

3. Secure Streaming Protocols (e.g., HLS Encryption)

• Secure Streaming Protocols: What are they?

By ensuring that content is sent to the end user in a secure and encrypted format, secure streaming protocols like HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) make it more difficult for cybercriminals to intercept or alter the video data during transmission.

• Why is HLS encryption critical?

OTT services frequently use HLS streaming, and encrypting the content stream ensures that even if the data is intercepted, it cannot be decrypted without the correct key. This shields user information and content from nefarious third parties.

• How does encryption work?

An AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) key, distinct for each session, is used to encrypt data when utilizing HLS encryption. This key is then provided separately and is necessary for the user to decrypt and view the information. The content is inaccessible without it.

• AES Encryption provides increased security

AES is a popular encryption method that provides robust protection for video content. OTT services further reduce the likelihood of piracy and unlawful access by encrypting their content both during transmission and at rest, using a combination of AES and HLS.

Further read: Best Video-On-Demand Platform

Best Practices for OTT App Security

A thorough security checklist for OTT developers must be implemented because cyberattacks, data breaches, and piracy are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The following are the best practices for OTT app security solution that can safeguard your income streams, improve user confidence, and protect your platform:

1. End-to-End Encryption

Data sent between the user and the OTT platform is safely protected through end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This implies that the data can only be accessed by those who are permitted, such as the user and the OTT service. Hackers cannot read the encrypted data, even if they manage to intercept the transmission.

How Does It Work in OTT Apps?

End-to-end encryption ensures that data (such as payment details) is encrypted on the sender’s end and decrypted only on the recipient’s end when users stream or share it. This offers a robust defense against data theft, hacking, and illegal access.

Important Technologies:

• Advanced Encryption Standard, or AES: It is frequently used to encrypt user data and video material. It is a quick and safe symmetric encryption technique.
• Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security, or SSL/TLS: It is a set of encryption technologies used to protect online communications. It is essential for safeguarding private information, such as credit card numbers, when streaming or making purchases.

Why It’s Important for OTT Apps:

Both user information and video footage are encrypted to protect sensitive data from nefarious actors. Additionally, it prevents unauthorized access to streaming material, safeguarding your platform’s integrity and business model.

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds an extra degree of protection by requiring users to authenticate themselves using at least two distinct methods—something they know (password), something they possess (mobile phone, authentication app), or something they are (biometric verification).

How MFA Works for OTT Apps: 

MFA can stop unwanted access to user accounts on OTT platforms. Upon logging in, users will receive a verification code over email or SMS after inputting their password. They are unable to access the material until they enter the correct code. As a result, it is more difficult for hackers to take over accounts and access premium material.

Benefits of MFA for OTT Apps

• Avoids Account Hijacking: Even in cases where a hacker has obtained a user’s password, MFA significantly reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access.
• Enhances User Trust: By adding an extra degree of protection, users feel more assured that their private information is secure.
• Decreases Fraud: By making it harder for unidentified individuals to access accounts, MFA helps reduce account sharing and subscription fraud, which are prevalent in OTT platforms.

MFA Best Practices:

• For increased convenience and security, use biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or face ID) and push alerts.
• For PC users, utilize push notifications; for mobile apps, use time-based one-time passwords (TOTP).

Also read: Video-On-Demand Platforms

3. Regular Security Audits and Updates

To identify weaknesses in your OTT platform and ensure your security procedures are up to date, regular security audits are essential. It’s crucial to stay ahead of the game by identifying vulnerabilities before they are exploited, as hackers continually adapt their tactics.

What Needs to Be Audited?

• Code Review: Verify that the code is free of exploitable weaknesses, such as SQL injection errors or insecure APIs.
• Encryption Protocols: To stay current with emerging standards, test and update encryption techniques regularly.
• User Access Logs: Monitor who is using the platform, identify unusual access patterns, and ensure that only authorized individuals have the necessary access levels.

Security Patching and Software Updates

To address any vulnerabilities found, the app’s software must be updated regularly. Software update delays can expose your program to security vulnerabilities and intrusions. Ensure that security updates and patches are installed automatically and on schedule.

Automated Security Testing

Utilizing automated OTT app testing technologies in your development process facilitates the early detection of such attacks. This preventative measure reduces the likelihood of introducing flaws into the live application.

4. Robust Payment Security

• Safeguarding Monetary Transactions

Since OTT platforms handle sensitive financial data, including credit card information, payment fraud poses a significant threat. Ensuring the security of financial transactions is crucial for maintaining user confidence and protecting your platform from financial losses.

• Significance of PCI-DSS Compliance

OTT platforms must adhere to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) to safeguard user payment information. These guidelines require security measures, including safeguarding payment gateways, encrypting card information, and ensuring that financial data is stored securely.

• Secure Payment Gateways

Integrate PCI-DSS compliant safe payment platforms such as Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay. These services ensure the protection of users’ financial information by providing encryption, fraud detection, and compliance with regulations.

• Tokenization and Preventing Fraud

Tokenization substitutes a unique identification (token) for confidential financial data, rendering it unusable if thieves manage to intercept it. Suspicious activities, such as repeated unsuccessful login attempts or account access from unusual locations, can be detected by fraud prevention systems.

Emerging Technologies in OTT Security

Here are a few of the significant developments:

• AI & ML: Real-time detection and response to security breaches can be achieved through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). By automatically spotting odd user activity patterns, such unauthorized access or strange login attempts, these solutions allow for quick action to stop possible risks.
• Blockchain: To secure transactions and eliminate content piracy, OTT platforms are progressively implementing blockchain technology. Blockchain’s decentralized structure makes it possible to guarantee that content is distributed safely and that only authorized users can access it.
• Digital Watermarking and Fingerprinting: By adding distinct identifiers to content, digital watermarking and fingerprinting enable over-the-top (OTT) platforms to monitor and stop the illegal distribution or piracy of copyrighted information.

Why Choose the Right OTT App Security Vendor or Solution from Scalevista?

Selecting the right vendor is crucial for safeguarding your over-the-top platform. The OTT landscape presents a distinct set of challenges, including maintaining compliance with international regulations, protecting sensitive user data, and ensuring the security of critical content.

Scalevista is a top OTT app development company in the USA, offering the knowledge and specialized solutions you require to safeguard your company.

With end-to-end security solutions specifically designed to meet OTT platform requirements, Scalevista has established a strong reputation for developing OTT platforms. Scalevista, an ISO 9001:2015 certified business with extensive experience, is prepared to protect OTT apps from attacks, guarantee compliance, and assist your platform in scaling safely.

Our strategy offers specialized security solutions that address all critical facets of OTT platform safety by fusing state-of-the-art security technologies with extensive industry experience.

1. Vendor Specialization in OTT Security

As we specialize in providing OTT-specific security solutions that ensure complete protection for user data, content, and overall platform integrity, Scalevista is a reliable partner.

In terms of OTT app security, Scalevista offers the following essential features and services:

• Digital Rights Management (DRM): We employ industry-standard DRM technologies, such as Widevine and PlayReady, to make sure that only authorized users may view your video material, protecting it from unauthorized access and dissemination.
• Content Protection: Scalevista utilises cutting-edge techniques to protect video content, including encryption and watermarking. Despite the rise in illicit streaming and downloading, our solutions help protect your material against piracy.
• End-to-End Encryption: Utilise robust encryption methods to protect sensitive user information. To protect user data and content from unwanted access during storage and transmission, we provide SSL/TLS and AES encryption.
• Anti-Piracy Solutions: We offer both visible and invisible watermarks using watermarking technology to assist in tracking down the source of pirated content and discourage unauthorized downloads and streaming.
• Access Control: To protect user accounts from unwanted access and guarantee the confidentiality of your platform, employ stringent access control measures, such as MFA.
• Automatic Threat Detection: We incorporate advanced technologies that continuously monitor your platform, promptly identifying potential security issues and mitigating threats before they escalate into problems.

2. Reputation and Experience

It’s critical to consider a security vendor’s reputation and experience before choosing one. Your OTT platform’s security necessitates a vendor with a solid track record and in-depth knowledge of the security environment.

How to Assess the Reputation of a Vendor:

• Customer Testimonials: OTT service providers who entrust us with their security requirements have given Scalevista favourable feedback. Our proactive approach and dedication to establishing enduring, reliable partnerships are valued by our clients.
• Case Studies: We have several case studies that demonstrate our expertise in implementing security solutions for OTT platforms, ensuring they are both scalable and secure.

• Industry Recognition: Experts in the field have acknowledged Scalevista’s contributions to the OTT security sector, solidifying our position as an authority in this area.

Refer to our OTT app development case study for more insights and knowledge. 

3. Scalable Security Solutions

Your OTT platform’s security requirements will expand accordingly. Effective scalability and strong security are essential for an OTT service to succeed. Because Scalevista is aware of this, we offer scalable security solutions that adapt to the expansion of your platform.

• Cloud-Based Security: Scalevista offers security solutions that scale seamlessly with your user base, thanks to cloud computing. Our cloud-based services expand with you, so there’s no need for complex infrastructure adjustments.
• Automated Threat Detection: Our automated threat detection solutions help manage increased traffic and content without requiring continuous human intervention as your platform expands in size.
• Flexible Security Features: Our security features, including DRM, encryption, and multi-factor authentication, are scalable to meet the increasing demands of your platform as your content collection and subscriber base grow.

Final Thoughts 

It is now essential for OTT service providers to make sure their platforms are secure. By prioritizing security, you not only safeguard your content and client information but also establishing a solid reputation for dependability and credibility. The need for robust security measures is increasing in tandem with the proliferation of OTT services.

In summary:

• Content theft and piracy have a direct negative impact on revenue sources, reducing the perceived value of premium subscriptions.
• Data security: In light of growing privacy concerns, safeguarding private client information is essential to preventing harm to one’s finances and reputation.
• Compliance: To prevent penalties and maintain user confidence, it’s critical to stay ahead of legal regulations such as the CCPA and GDPR.
• Proactive Security Practices: Regular security audits, multi-factor authentication, and end-to-end encryption all help reduce threats.

Our specialty at Scalevista is offering customized OTT app security solutions that grow with your company. Our extensive expertise in OTT app cybersecurity vendoring and custom software development enables us to implement robust, data-driven security measures that safeguard your platform against evolving threats.

Take action now! 

Contact us for expert advice and start integrating state-of-the-art security solutions for your over-the-top platform today. 

FAQs

1. Is the OTT app safe?

Yes, OTT apps can be secure when implemented with robust security features, such as multi-factor authentication, secure payment gateways, encryption, and regular updates.

2. What are OTT security risks?

Key OTT security risks include piracy, unauthorized access, data breaches, DDoS attacks, and subscription fraud, leading to revenue loss and data compromise. Strong security measures, such as encryption, DRM, and regular updates, help mitigate these risks.

3. How can I prevent piracy on my OTT app?

Use secure streaming protocols, watermarking, and DRM to prevent OTT app piracy. Regularly monitor for unauthorized access and use robust authentication and encryption procedures.

4. Do I need DRM for streaming on mobile and smart TVs?

Yes, DRM is required for mobile and smart TV streaming. It protects content from unauthorized access and ensures compliance with license terms across platforms, utilizing solutions such as FairPlay, PlayReady, and Widevine.

5. What’s the best anti-piracy tech for OTT platforms?

• Digital Rights Management (DRM): Protects content by encrypting it, controlling user access, preventing unauthorized copying or distribution, and ensuring compliance with content licensing.
• Watermarking: Tracks and identifies sources of piracy.
• Geo-blocking: Restricts access to content based on geographic location.
• Tokenization: Prevents illegal sharing by authenticating users.

6. Can I enforce geo-restriction in a secure way?

Yes, geo-restriction can be enforced securely using:

• IP Geolocation: Detects users’ locations and restricts access to content accordingly.
• Geo-blocking Services: Restrict content access based on specific countries or regions.
• VPN Detection: Identifies and blocks VPN traffic to prevent circumvention of geo-restrictions.