GoStream: Is It Safe to Use in 2024? What are Alternatives to It?

Once, a network of highly successful movie-streaming websites was based in Vietnam. The network comprised five domain names that gained worldwide popularity by offering free, pirated content to their users. The Motion Picture Association of America once referred to this handful of websites (including GoStream) as the “most popular illegal sites.”

In 2017, the US ambassador to Vietnam started talking with the country’s Minister of Information and Communications, Truong Minh Tuan, about fighting the plethora of illegal video-streaming websites in the country. The network of those five websites we already mentioned was on the ambassador’s list (123Movies, GoMoves, GoStream, MeMovies, and 123movieshub). It took a while, but the ambassador’s efforts came to fruition when the five websites went down, at last, on 19 March 2018.

However, when an illegal video streaming website becomes notorious, many clones start popping up everywhere on the internet. Thus the new websites perpetuate the original website’s functionality. And the authorities usually do not pursue the new clones for reasons only they understand. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happened with GoStream.

So GoStream is alive through several clones. Of course, the original website is gone, but the replacements are almost precisely the same in terms of functionality, and you can still use them.

Is the GoStream site safe to use?

We covered the basics above. But should you use GoStream.site at all? This is the question that we will explore in this article. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t straightforward because illegal video streaming sites can complicate your life unnecessarily. After all, the clones bring on many new complications to the table.

There is a minimal amount of information you need to know about GoStream. First of all, it offers its users a comprehensive catalog of movies at no charge. Second, the website itself stores no content. Instead, it aggregates the links that point to the servers where a specific title is held. It’s a link hub more than a streaming server.

Third, several clones are pestered with ads. These are not just annoying. Many of them have the potential to spread trackers and other malware, so there are websites in this network that are a genuine security risk. And last but not least, GoStream is illegal in most of the world’s jurisdictions. This is why it’s free and has no geo-location locks.

Is GoStream a legal website?

The most likely answer to this question is “no.” There are three countries in the world where you can own copyrighted material without paying for it legally as long as you do not use it commercially. And there are a handful of other countries with no copyright protection laws. So unless you live in San Marino, Eritrea, Turkmenistan, and a handful of other jurisdictions, GoStream is an illegal website because it distributes copyrighted works without any authorization and compensation for the copyright owners.

That means before you go ahead and decide that GoStream is your cup of tea, we encourage you to find out everything you can about your domestic copyright laws and your government’s stance on them –some governments pay lip service to copyright protection and do little or nothing to enforce them, some others are very serious about this issue and using a website like GoStream could create severe problems for you.

In essence, it all depends on your place of residence. And it goes like this: Poland, Spain, and Switzerland allow you to have or use pirated material as long as it’s for personal purposes only.

But then, the countries that criminalize piracy but do not enforce the law actively include Slovenia, Uruguay, Slovakia, India, Romania, Singapore, Mexico, Israel, the Philippines, Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, Iran, Greece, Egypt, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Canada.

Lastly, the countries that consider piracy illegal and prosecute it are the US, South Africa, Russia, Portugal, Latvia, Japan, Italy, the UK, Germany, France, Finland, China, and Australia.

And now, let us consider the difference between downloading and streaming a movie. Some users believe that both things are essentially different processes that have nothing to do with each other. But alas, it is not so. From the legal point of view, there’s no significant difference between downloading and streaming.

Even from the technical point of view, both processes are almost the same; the only difference is that, after streaming, no physical copy of the data remains in storage within your devices. But the information traveled the internet to your device, bit by bit, and you saw the movie at your leisure.

The relevant thing is the legal meaning both terms have; in both cases, you’re breaking the law in most of the world. So do not try to deceive yourself. If you live in a jurisdiction hostile to illegal streaming, GoStream can get you in trouble.

Let’s be even more clear about this issue: streaming a movie is precisely the same as downloading the film from a torrent (P2P download) site at the correct speed to see it in real-time and then deleting the resulting file once you’re done.

The legal consequences of watching GoStream.Site

Every jurisdiction has a different way of dealing with copyright issues, and every government also deals with infractions in its own way.

However, in most countries in the world, if you get caught using copyrighted material illegally, you’ll be issued a warning, which will be the end of it. But if you are in Germany, you could get a heavy fine for this behavior.

Granted, proving that you’ve used a service such as GoStream or another website in its family is not so easy. After using it, there is little evidence left behind, and finding it needs a thorough digital forensic analysis.

You can even ensure that no such evidence remains if you are careful enough and keep your browser’s cache clean. However, “difficult” is not the same as “impossible,” You should bear in mind that there are other ways to catch you red-handed such as tracking your IP address.

As we mentioned before, not every country puts much effort into prosecuting copyright infringements. Even countries that take this issue more seriously prefer to go against those distributing illegal content and not against the viewers.

Does that make you safe? Not in the least. If a governmental agency cracks the infringing servers down and gets its hands on the user logs, it could find your IP address there. Then, a fine could find its way to your mailbox, which can be very high indeed.

So how can I watch GoStream safely?

Let us be clear about something: Using GoStream is illegal in many of the world’s countries. Consequently, we do not condone using it in any country where it’s against domestic legislation. However, there are many other countries where websites like GoStream are legal enough, even if it’s only for personal use.

If you are in one such country where GoStream is ok, you can use it at your leisure. But you should still be exceedingly careful because GoStream and its sister sites pose other risks (security, mainly). So you should be aware of those risks and take the measures you need to remain safe.

This brings us to the Virtual Private Network or VPN. It is the Swiss army knife of the digital era, and currently, we consider having a premium VPN service essential to secure the best possible digital lifestyle.

So the answer to the question of watching GoStream safely is: yes, you can watch GoStream more safely by always using a VPN.

The VPN helps in several ways:

1. It encrypts all the traffic outgoing and incoming to any protected device. That prevents any third party from figuring out what you’re doing.
2. The VPN spoofs your IP address, so any interaction with online servers, such as the GoStream servers, won’t know your IP.
3. It keeps your original digital address away from any logs that GoStream or any of its mirrors have.
4. The best VPNs in the market offer several additional features, including ad blockers. This is excellent news for GoStream users because the currently available clones are clogged with unwanted ads that have been known to spread all sorts of malware.

Two of the most popular VPNs are SurfShark and ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is the best-established name in the VPN-verse we recommend using with GoStream. It’s been around for ages, always providing the most advanced service. Surfshark is a newcomer. But one that has made a name for itself very quickly by providing top-notch service for a meager price. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, is slightly more expensive than the industry average, but as it remains the best VPN out there, it’s worth it.

Besides having a VPN online whenever you’re streaming videos from GoStream, it’s essential to have a good antivirus suite online, especially if you’re using a Windows or a macOS computer. Kaspersky is the best one by far, requiring you to buy a license.

The VPN and the antivirus suite will ensure your safety against malware; the VPN will secure your digital identity, as conveyed by your IP address, and keep you anonymous online.

It will also prevent external observers from making heads or tails of your activities. Please notice this: you’re still at the mercy of your government if you’re acting illegally, so be aware of your legal environment and don’t take risks you don’t need.

How dangerous is it really to watch videos on GoStream?

We’ve already explained why using GoStream and other similar free movie websites can be dangerous from a legal point of view. And the risks of getting fined or even doing time are real in some countries. But there are other risks we haven’t described in detail, and they mostly concern safety.

So is GoStream a safe website to use? Unfortunately, we can’t give you a simple binary answer to this question because it depends on the local environment and the team that hosts the website.

The first thing to realize is that GoStream hasn’t been around for years. The original website, hosted in Vietnam, is not available anymore. However, its legacy of sorts remains with us because its huge success spawned many clones and mirror sites.

These websites are in the hands of a third party that had nothing to do with the original GoStream. It doesn’t take a lot of expertise to come up with a GoStream clone and bring it online with a few modifications tailored to meet the new owner’s goals –most frequently, making money through clicks.

So each mirror is slightly different. Each one is designed according to the owner’s wishes. Some have more ads, some fewer. Then the ads can be cleaned or delivery systems for malware. But these environmental factors can vary significantly from site to site, so it’s impossible to say if the whole GoStream experience can be safe. It’s all about the individual mirror you prefer and how that mirror is designed.

There are no standards when it comes to this loose family of mirrors. The only common thing is the GoStream philosophy and links.

Couldn’t we even give you something of an average of safety for the GoStream mirror network? Not really. The collection of GoStream mirrors includes both safe websites and dangerous ones. And this is a case in which averages won’t give you meaningful information. Suppose we should tell you that, on average, using GoStream mirrors is “pretty safe” (which we’re not saying it is). What is the use of that if your favorite mirror turns out to be the most dangerous one?

So on this issue, the best information we can offer you is this: as long as you use any GoStream mirror, both your antivirus and VPN are online, and your chances of remaining safe are pretty high.

So here’s what you must remember from this section: GoSite isn’t around. Instead, its mirrors are. Each is built accordingly to the owner’s wishes.

That means any given mirror can be safe or not. But you can avoid any risks by using a premium VPN and antivirus software at all times.

And, to be honest, having a top-notch VPN and Kaspersky always online on your computer should be as fundamental as having an operating system. It’s not an optative luxury for geeks. It’s the price you pay for doing business in the digital age.

Is a VPN really going to keep me safe at GoStream.Site?

There is no general answer because not all VPNs are created equal.

However, if the VPN you have in mind is a truly premium service (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, SurfShark, PIA, CyberGhost), then the answer would be: yes, your VPN will surely keep you safe at all times when you’re watching GoSTream videos, along with your antivirus software.

We’ve explained the precise mechanics of a good VPN service that will ensure your security everywhere on the internet, GoStream included.

The best VPNs to keep you safe at GoStream in 2022

1. ExpressVPN

Best all-around VPN to use a site like GoStream safely. Fast speeds. Lots of servers. Keeps no logs.

Visit ExpressVPN

3,000 VPN servers scattered in more than 90 countries

Solid AES-256-bit encryption

Web leak protection for all widely-loved browsers

Has P2P (torrenting) optimized servers

Kill switch

Strict zero-logs policy

Up to 5 simultaneous connections per account

No questions asked, 30-days money-back guarantee

Pros

• Accepts cryptocurrency/anonymous payments
• Fast speeds for streaming and downloading
• Top-notch security and privacy features

Cons

• Fewer connections simultaneosly

ExpressVPN is usually the best VPN we can think of for any task, and video streaming is one of those tasks. This VPN will get you to any GoStream clone you’d like and any other video streaming platform, legal or otherwise.

The speeds within the ExpressVPN network are far higher than you’ll need to support HD video streams, and the connections are solid and reliable. So no buffering.

This service takes your privacy seriously, as it keeps no user logs, has only RAM-based servers, and provides you with an ad blocker.

2. NordVPN

A speedy VPN provider. Enables accessing GoStream online safely. Impeccable security and no logs.

Visit NordVPN

5,400 VPN servers in 60 countries 

P2P (torrenting) optimized nodes

Robust AES-256-bit encryption

Zero-logging

Boasts kill switch feature

Allows 6 connections simultaneously

Web protection

Multi-Hop mode (double encryption)

30-days of money-back guarantee

Pros

• Heavy focus on security and privacy
• Excellent customer support
• Affordable long-term packages

Cons

• Not all servers support P2P traffic

NordVPN is among the most advanced VPN services regarding technology, speed, reliability, and privacy. In addition, it has effective split tunneling, kill switch, DDoS protection, DNS leak protection, and many other extra features.

This VPN includes CyberSec, which blocks every website known for hosting malware and removes every ad. Thus, your streaming experience is faster, smoother, more reliable, and more convenient.

As with ExpressVPN, NordVPN is an excellent option for online video streaming because it can successfully unlock any video streaming platform under the sun.

So how may I proceed to access GoStream?

Let’s say you live in a country that allows free and legal access to GoStram, has an antivirus suite installed and working in your system, and has a premium VPN account. Then all that’s left for you is to use Google to find a proper GoStream mirror by running a simple search.

It’s quick, simple, and if it’s legal where you live, there’s nothing to stop you.

Legal Alternatives to GoStream

GoStream lets you watch a vast amount of numbers for free. That’s why it’s such an appealing option for many users worldwide. But, as we’ve explained earlier, it has the disadvantage of being illegal almost everywhere. So this begs the question: Are there any legal and free video streaming websites? Unfortunately, hardly.

The reason for this lies within the very mechanics of content distribution. Legal websites must have the copyright holder’s blessing to offer any given movie for streaming.

That entails negotiating an agreement, which includes conditions such as how much money the streamer must pay and what regions of the world are where he’s licensed to offer the content. Logic and economics take over from there: legal video streaming websites must pay for the content they distribute, so they charge you for the service.

There are legal video streaming services on the internet. They are the safest way to access copyrighted movies and TV shows. And they usually also have better video quality and functionality. Yes, you have to pay for them, but the fees are typically low, considering the number of titles they offer.

Let’s review some of the best legal video streaming services on the web so you can consider using one or several of them instead of GoStream. There’s a caveat: You should still have an antivirus and a premium VPN even with these sites. More on that later. So this is our list:

1. Netflix: it’s the king of video streaming, a household name, and the biggest game in town. The video catalog it offers is extensive, but it varies from country to country. That’s why a VPN is helpful for Netflix, as it lets you unlock the US catalog, which is the best in the service.
2. Amazon Prime Video: it’s like Netflix with a smaller catalog but with an additional advantage: if you are already paying for the Prime feature as an Amazon user, you are entitled to use this video streaming service and didn’t know it.
3. Disney Plus: Disney needs no introduction. It’s the leading provider of children’s entertainment. This website streams content, including all Star Wars material, The Mandalorian, and other franchises that have become Disney’s property over the years.
4. HBO Max: It is the place to go if you can’t have enough HBO shows (Game of Thrones, Rome, and more). But HBO Max also offers the complete Warner Bros. catalog (including Friends and the Looney Tunes). So while the catalog in HBO Max is much smaller than in other legal options, the average quality is also much higher.
5. Hulu: It is an option for live TV and some on-demand video. Live sports are the platform’s main selling point because it differs from free websites.
6. YouTubeTV: The father and still king of digital video streams also have a live TV service. This service will get you about seventy live channels on your chosen device.

Please notice this: many of our list’s legal options are unavailable worldwide. However, they are all available from within the US (and it’s also typical that US-based users are treated with the best service in terms of variety), and overseas users generally have to settle for an inferior catalog.

But there’s no need to despair; this is when your brand new VPN account will serve you even better than with GoStream: you can use your VPN network to spoof an IP address from the US (pick a VPN server that’s based there), and then every platform in the list will become available to you and treat you with the best catalog it offers.

Conclusion

It’s easy to put everything you need to know about GoStream in a few words: it’s not legal, it’s not safe, and it doesn’t even exist anymore. It went down four years ago, and there’s nothing left of it except for mirrors and clones. And that makes those residual websites potentially more illegal and unsafe.

Free video streaming sites are tempting. They’re free; they have a lot of content. But they can also get you in lots of trouble, so it’s not such a straightforward thing that they’re such a great idea.

However, if using GoStream in your country is legal, you can solve this website’s security and privacy problems by taking two simple measures (which you should always be using already, anyway): having a premium VPN service and good antivirus software.

So yes, you can always use GoStream safely and enjoy it. But it remains a terrible idea if you ask us. Plenty of legal video services on the internet can quench your thirst for digital entertainment at a minimal cost. It would be best to consider using one of those before GoStream or similar websites.

In any case, the one thing to remember is this: you need a VPN. Always use a VPN. Whether you want to use it to remain safe at GoStream or other things, a VPN such as Nord, ExpressVPN, or Private Internet Access will always give you many additional advantages, tools, and services that you will soon wonder why you waited so long to have one.

And the VPN will give you the one thing we want for all our readers: it will help you stay safe online!

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