Tag: app-subdomain-redirection:plex

Data breach at Plex means it’s time to change your password again

Plex is one of the most popular multi-service streaming media platforms in the world because of its sheer versatility and ability to integrate with multiple other platforms, services, and file types. Unfortunately for Plex users, the company behind the Plex media server has begun sending out emails to all users notifying them of a data breach. Here is what you need to know.

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Thanks to a copy of the letter Plex has been sending out, which has been shared with BleepingComputer, we can report on some of the details of the breach, including the type of data that has been accessed and what you need to do about it.

According to the letter, the actor behind the breach gained access to a “limited subset of data that includes emails, usernames, and encrypted passwords.” Plex did have security measures in place to protect against occurrences such as this one but even still, the company is asking all users to reset their passwords. The letter says:

“Even though all account passwords that could have been accessed were hashed and secured in accordance with best practices, out of an abundance of caution we are requiring all Plex accounts to have their password reset.”

The letter does go on to say that no credit card and payment data has been exposed by the breach but there are other security concerns Plex users need to take into account. If you use the same password across multiple online accounts, then now is a good time to start changing your passwords as the actor who has pulled off the breach at Plex could potentially be able to use your repeated login details trying to access your other accounts. In fact, you should probably look at getting a password managing app such as LastPass, which will both securely store your passwords and automatically generate unique and secure passwords for all your accounts.

So far, Plex has said that it has identified the issue that allowed for the breach, but the long-term implications of the breach are still unclear. This means e will have to keep tracking this story to stay on top of developments.

In other cybersecurity news, Google has recently plugged a variety of security flaws on Google Chrome.

How to Use Plex

If you landed here due to the comPLEXities you’re experiencing using Plex, rest assured you’re not alone. Plex is one of the best entertainment hubs currently available, but get ready for a steep learning curve, guys and gals. The excellent news is that once you’ve mastered it, you’ll have a superb looking tool to manage your multimedia on one platform.

Why choose Plex?

Well, firstly, it’s free and safe to download on Android, Mac, iPhone, and Windows. There’s an array of reasons why you want to grab the manual and get it mastered, such as:

  • It’s a multi-lingual platform
  • It’s an open-source development.
  • You can customize Plex with a variety of third-party plug-ins, such as Netflix.
  • It optimizes all your media in one place.
  • You can stream between devices.
  • You can stream and record free TV channels.

How to get started and use Plex?

Let’s begin your journey with this entertaining app:

  1. Install the app on all your devices you want to connect to Plex, starting with your primary PC or laptop.
  2. When the installation is complete, select ‘Launch’ to redirect to a new browser window.
  3. Create your new Plex account by following all prompts. If you skip this step, you’ll only access limited functionality. It’s advisable to complete your new account and make use of the full suite of features.
  4. Add your libraries by following the straightforward prompts on Plex. It’s handy at this point to know that you can continue following more setup steps while your media syncs from all devices.
  5. You can choose the option to send all user data to Plex automatically moving forward. It’s a great time saver when you have multiple devices. 
  6. In the L-side menu, you’ll see a notice to ‘Claim your current network.’ Click on the alert to identify your server in the future.
  7. Click on the alert next to ‘Remote Access’ > ‘Enable Remote Access.’ It allows all other devices to connect to your Plex hub.
  8. Select the ‘Channels’ option on the side menu. Click on each channel you want and press ‘Install.’
  9. Now you can move on to your other devices and follow the setup prompts. It’ll show you how to share media between devices.
  10. You can customize your account to your heart’s content. Don’t worry; you can’t break Plex, so be creative and have fun creating your playlists.

Other platforms to consider

You can also consider another open-source multimedia platform such as Kodi or Stremio.