Is Kodi legal and safe?

Kodi is a leading solution when it comes to enjoying the entertainment at home, thanks to its reliable performance and a great combination of features. While Kodi itself doesn’t offer the content itself, it allows you to get the best possible experience while streaming content from different sources. However, there are some aspects that should be kept in mind to ensure that you can enjoy Kodi without security concerns. Kodi is a free and open source software run by volunteers and while the quality of Kodi is remarkable, it is up to users to protect themselves against the dangers that lurk Kodi. These threats include malware, man-in-the-middle attacks and eavesdropping.
It should also be noted that certain Kodi add-ins facilitate access to content that is subject to copyright. There are devices available on the market that come with these add-ons pre-installed and provide access to pirated content. The legal status of these type of devices (known as pirate TV boxes) may vary from one country to another, but it is important to keep in mind that they are against the law in many locations. Overall, there are different reasons why it is important to keep in mind the possible risks when using Kodi. We’ll take a closer look at each of the threats that should be considered and we’ll discuss how you can protect yourself from them.
Man-in-the-middle attacks
Man-in-the-Middle or MITM attacks can affect your Kodi experience and it has been reported that the Kodi update function is vulnerable to this threat. Once Kodi is launched, it automatically looks for new updates for all the add-ons that are installed and downloads any available updates, if required. The download and installation takes place over HTTP without encryption, which leaves the door open to malicious add-ons and third-parties who may attempt to access your online traffic. If someone intercept your traffic and manages to deliver a malicious add-on that is then installed on your system, so it can exetute Python code.
They could get access to your data or make changes without your knowledge. In order to improve the security of your traffic while using Kodi, you can use a VPN service. VPNs encrypt the traffic between your device and the VPN server, protecting it from third-parties. Although technically there is a possibility that an attacker could break into the traffic between the VPN server and the add-on repository since this is not encrypted, the chances of this happening are minimal. Overall, using a VPN may not guarantee full protection, but it certainly improves your security.
Malicious add-ons
The main security concern that users face with Kodi is the possibility of installing a malicious add-on. As previously mentioned, Kodi itself doesn’t offer content. In addition, the official repository only contains a limited number of add-ons. However, there are numerous third-party add-ons that work on Kodi and that can provide access to news, TV shows, movies and other content. Since these add-ons are not official Kodi add-ons, they have not been inspected and verified. When a malicious add-on is installed on your device, it can execute code, steal information such as login details, escalate privileges, install viruses, malware and more.
In order to enhance the security of your system while using Kodi, it is important that you use an antivirus, as well as a VPN to protect your traffic. You should also avoid installing add-ons that don’t have any reviews and that come from unreliable sources. If an add-on only has a small number of installs, it is better to stay away from it. In addition, you should remove add-ons and repositories that you don’t use on a regular basis. Kodi add-ons are automatically updated and it is possible that an add-on that is currently fine, may become malicious at a later stage.
Devices that come with Kodi already installed
While Kodi is easy to install and it supports a wide range of devices, it is possible to find hardware that come with Kodi pre-installed. If you are considering getting one of these devices, it is important that you keep in mind that they may include backdoors and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers. If the device you bought is affected by backdoors and other issues, it is very difficult to get rid of them and in most cases, the only option is to clean the system completely and reinstall Kodi. Piracy TV boxes have become popular and can be found on many websites and online marketplaces. However, they may include malicious add-ons or simply don’t offer good performance. That doesn’t mean that it is not possible to find reliable devices that come with Kodi already installed. Just make sure that you buy from a trusted source.
Eavesdroppers
Although Kodi on its own doesn’t offer access to media content, many people associate it with illegal streaming. This is because there are Kodi add-ons that offer access to premium content including new movie releases, TV series from paid channels and pay per view sports events. As a result, those who aim to enforce copyright are likely to monitor the activity of Kodi users. If your IP address is identified, they may contact your ISP, which may then send you a warning letter, throttle your bandwidth or take other action.
One thing to keep in mind if you receive a settlement letter from your ISP, is that this is not a legal document and it is best not to respond to it. In the US, your IP address can’t be used as an identity, but if you respond, you would be confirming that it is you who is associated to that IP. While we advise you to consider the legal implications and risks involved when accessing content that is subject to copyright, if you chose to do so, make sure that you protect your identity. Use a VPN to encrypt your traffic and to mask your real IP address.
Using a VPN with Kodi
There is a wide selection of VPNs available but the best options provide fast performance, strong security and high quality software compatible with multiple platforms. Once you sign up for a VPN service, you can install the VPN client and once it is running, you can connect to the VPN server of your choice. Keep in mind that the closer the location of the server, the better speed you will enjoy. If you don’t need to unblock content from a different location, you can simply connect to a VPN server in your country. Your IP address will still be protected, enhancing your privacy on the internet.
If your VPN provider supports kill switch, make sure that this feature is enabled. This will ensure that even if the VPN connection drops at some point, your IP address won’t be exposed. A kill switch automatically shuts down all (or specific) online applications if the VPN stops working for some reason, meaning that your IP address won’t be revealed. Another aspect to consider is that some devices don’t have built-in support for VPN and in those cases, you may have to set the VPN on a network router that has been flashed with Tomato or DD-WRT. Some VPN providers like ExpressVPN and TorGuard offer routers that have been already configured with the VPN.
ExpressVPN
Kodi users need great speed and high security and that is what ExpressVPN offers through its service. This reliable solution gives you access to servers in over 90 countries and it doesn’t keep logs of your online activities. ExpressVPN offers fantastic software for all major platforms.
PureVPN
PureVPN’s client is easy to use and it provides a good variety of features that will give you security and flexibility, while you stream content on Kodi. Currently, they have over 750 servers in 141 countries. PureVPN also offers high encryption to keep your online traffic secure and it doesn’t log your online activities.
Private Internet Access
PIA is very popular in the VPN industry thanks to the fact that it has managed to combine affordability, advanced features and good speeds, in an effective way. If you pay for a full year, the monthly price is less than $3.50 and you can connect to servers in 25 countries, including locations that support some of the best content in the world such as the US and the UK. No activity logs are kept.
TorGuard
TorGuard offers fast performance and it allows you to enjoy streaming seamlessly and securely. They sell pre-configured routers on their website, which makes things simple when you need to use a device that doesn’t offer native support for a VPN. TorGuard doesn’t keep logs and has servers in over 50 countries.
Legality of Kodi and Kodi Add-ons like Exodus
Kodi is legitimate software and it can be downloaded and installed without issues. You can find officially approved add-ons that are completely legal as well. However, some third-party add-ons are designed to allow streaming from sources that are not authorized by the copyright holders. The legality of these streams would depend on the regulations of your country. For instance, UK sellers of devices pre-loaded with Kodi and add-ons that facilitate streaming of pirated content, have been fined. In the EU, access to pirate content is against the law and the same goes for modifying any device in order to access premium content without paying. If you intend to use Kodi add-ons to access such content, you need to keep your identity protected to avoid being targeted by copyright enforces.