Security researchers found a way to exploit various traffic patterns in video-streaming protocol which are used by largest streaming sites in the world including YouTube. This allows them to determine the videos that users watched online, in spite of various encryption techniques in place.

While working on how ISPs(Internet Service Providers) could optimise services to improve the watching experience of video for its users, Ran Dubin, a cyber-security expert discovered something. He found that ISPs apart from finding the watch quality, they could also, if they wanted determine the video titles their users are/were watching. Although YouTube uses encryption to secure your data, Dubin explained that anyone who is watching your network can find out what exactly you are watching. Read our post on Securing Public Cloud Networks to know about cloud networks.

Passive YouTube Video-Streaming Network Traffic Analysis

Just for an instance if there is an observer standing in front of your house, who is constantly observing the packages delivered to your door. Although each package has a different size, shape, etc, if the observer could match it with his catalogue of known packages, he could reach to a conclusion on what you ordered. This doesn’t require the observer to open your packages.

Similarly, when using YouTube, each package has its own unique signature and also information related to IP address of both sender and receiver. This information is enough for an observer to determine whether particular package is associated with YouTube and you. This observer could be anyone, a hacker who has hold on the router at a local coffee shop, administrator of your Wi-Fi network present on your campus or even your ISP.

Protect Your YouTube Video-Streaming

You can use VPN along with Tor network to protect yourself from identification. Check out our post on Use VPN And Tor Together to know how it helps with security. Your immediate tool that identifies you is your IP which is removed by VPN. Even though the observe could know what video is being watched he cannot relate it to who is watching it. The data is mixed with hundreds of users watching videos simultaneously. Due to the encryption techniques implemented by modern VPNs even your ISP cannot obtain or track your activities. The traffic patterns collected from you earlier will no longer be of use for the observer and now you are safe.

Choose the best VPN provider – VPNShazam to protect your video-streaming. VPNShazam protects your identity by encrypting all your online traffic thereby evading hackers and snoops. You can secure your connection as well as change your location with just one click. Our ultra secure and ultra fast VPN experience provides you with fastest VPN speeds and unlimited entertainment. Unblock all censored content and stream whatever video you like. With 7 days money back guarantee and 80% discount VPNShazam is the best choice. Click here to get VPNShazam now!!