Putlocker was among the well-known platforms offering premium and copyrighted films and television series streaming for free. However, the original site was shut down after the court declared it illegal. Nonetheless, some Putlocker mirror websites/replicas of the original site are still available.
However, these sites are not safe and can cause severe troubles like copyright infringement issues, malicious attacks, and hacking attempts.
In this article, we review everything about Putlocker and let you know if the website is safe and legal to use.
DISCLAIMER: This article only servers as informational purposes, and we do not recommend using free streaming sites like Putlocker. Platforms like this host copyright content that may be illegal in most jurisdiction. Also, streaming for unauthorized services can infect your device with malicious files and virus. Therefore, we suggest you to use premium streaming platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. If you still wish to stream on these free sites, use a reliable VPN like NordVPN.
Is Putlocker safe?
The obvious answer to the above question is no. But to back the claim, below are some explanations as to why it is unsafe to use Putlocker:
- The free content on the site exposes the users because the owners don’t pay for strong security measures to protect them. They only focus on protecting their servers and not the contents during transit of downloads.
- The fact that users’ safety is not their priority, all who use the site use it at their risks.
- There is no legal agreement that puts the site owners in any legal position to be held accountable for the loss of users’ information.
- Due to a lack of users’ protection, hackers can drop malicious files to phish data and corrupt users’ devices’ operating systems.
- It is possible for the site owners to deliberately attach some malicious files which users can download alongside the movie contents for fraudulent reasons. If Putlocker can steal content to stream, then they can also steal your data.
- Putlocker mirror websites make money and also maintain their servers through voluntary donations without a subscription. People often get drawn to visiting illegal streaming websites such as Putlocker to access endless content because they’re free. However, hackers can steal your credit card details for fraudulent transactions from such sites.
- When on Putlocker, malvertising can also infiltrate your system, leading to identity theft, sabotage, and even ransom. Therefore, you have to play safely to avoid facing getting infected with malware.
Is using Putlocker illegal?
If anyone places copyrighted content on a website, both the user and the publisher can face severe penalties. Even though the chances of getting caught and prosecuted are slim, the website owner can be easily caught and face litigations. This is the case with Putlocker and why the government shut down the original website.
People who produce and market these contents are supposed to benefit financially from their work. To protect their interest, they copyright the contents to ensure no intellectual theft and revenue loss. Therefore, any form of illegal torrent downloads, streaming, distribution, or reproduction is a crime against copyright laws.
That’s why countries like Germany have a history of tracking and fining illegal content streamers.
Also, in the USA, some bodies watch against piracy. Mostly, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the Motion Association of America (MPAA) handle such cases.
They take note of the people who illegally download content and make them face huge financial ramifications. These organizations keep logs of everyone, which means that they can catch you at any time. This is one of the reasons you need adequate protection before streaming on Putlocker.
Did you know that the consequences of illegal downloads can result in a 5-year jail term in the USA? The government can also ask you to pay a fine of as much as $150,000 per file. Moreover, aside from the government penalties, the copyright owner can file a lawsuit and claim damages, which the defaulter must pay.
Is it dangerous to use a Putlocker?
As you might have guessed from the info above, using Putlocker without the necessary safety measures is absolutely dangerous. When it comes to the internet, people often ignore the risk of illegal streaming.
This applies to all streaming sites and not only Putlocker. Remember, illegal streaming is widespread worldwide and extremely dangerous for individuals.
It’s even more dangerous when an individual uses an organization’s system to stream illegally. Research conducted by MUSO showed that in 2017 France had up to 10.5 billion illegal streams. This number made them the highest in illegal streaming activities, while Germany and the UK followed behind.
People often stream illegally because they don’t want to pay for a subscription. However, streaming without making any payment comes at a price. For example, Putlocker and other illegal streaming sites periodically embed misleading adverts on their platforms. These ads can infect your system when you click on them.
You can also expose your device to Trojans, ransomware, crypto mining, viruses, adware, botnet, etc. This threat is even greater when an individual uses an organization’s computer to access an illegal streaming site. That is because organizations are bigger targets for cybercriminals than individuals.
Fraudsters use various techniques to hijack your device through illegal streaming sites. They can infect your device and make it malfunction. So, you need to put adequate measures in place before using Putlocker and other illegal streaming sites.
How to protect yourself from viruses while watching Putlocker
As you know now, streaming on Putlocker can expose you to malware and virus threats. Therefore, you need effective ways of keeping malware away from your device.
Malware can still infiltrate your device if you use services like Putlocker, even in countries where it is legal to use. One of the best solutions for protecting your device against exploitation is through the use of a VPN.
A VPN can help you remain anonymous on the internet and become undetectable by authorities. VPN would block out Malvertising, Trojans, crypto mining, botnet, etc.
A good VPN would drastically enhance your digital security and privacy and allow you to stream on every site. Also, it protects your entire browsing session and system.
VPN to the rescue
Here are the major advantages of using a VPN to use Putlocker:
- Stream as much as you want with speed
With VPN, you can stream on Putlocker without difficulties. Did you even know that Internet service providers are constantly monitoring your activities online? They see what you do and use the information to cut down your internet or slow you down.
Have you ever been streaming on BBC iPlayer, Hulu, or Netflix, and your content starts buffering? That happens because your ISP tries to cut down your limit. But with a VPN, you can avoid all such bandwidth throttling by your ISP.
- Privacy
Like we stated earlier, you can face the full wrath of the law when the authorities catch you streaming illegally. It can result in hefty fines, a prison sentence, or copyright damages. VPNs help prevent authorities and government agencies from invading your privacy and tracking you down. It would ensure that you remain anonymous and prevent government spying.
- Safety against Malware
The contents on Putlocker and other illegal streaming sites can expose you to malware. Also, people are always excited when they see free WiFi. But you should instead be wary of public WiFi due to the security threats.
Hackers can infiltrate your device while using public Wi-Fi. However, using a VPN on a public WI-FI can provide network and system security for you.
What are the popular alternatives to Putlocker?
There are some legal Putlocker alternatives where you pay or subscribe to watch movies and TV shows. Some of them include:
- Hulu
- Slin TV
- BBC iPlayer
- HBO Now
- Netflix
- Disney Plus
- YouTube TV
Some of these alternatives come with state-of-the-art geo-restrictions, and you may be wondering what to do. You may also be wondering about what to do if Putlocker is blocked in your region. It is important to note that only a quality VPN can enable you to bypass those restrictions.
So, opt for a top-notch VPN service with servers in many countries to help you bypass geo-restrictions and access your favorite streaming services. All it takes is to install the VPN and connect to a server location where streaming is available for users. It is that simple.
It is also essential to use a VPN that provides 24/7 customer support and offers a zero-low policy to enable you to stream movies and enjoy TV on Putlocker.
