Why do I have to change my password every month due to suspicious Activity?

Deano61

I am Streaming on a Roku device on my home internet. I also have a vacation cabin with Spectrum internet. I use a Roku to log on to the spectrum App with my home credentials. I also have a son at College who I have listed with a authorized email as a Standard User. He logs in with his credentials remotely. Every month I get the error I've been locked out due to suspicious activity, and requires a password change. This is EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. Since my charter email uses the same PW, I have to change on my phone, Laptop, Cabin Roku, my home desktop. This is not security, this is a screwed up process. Netflix has figured it out, why can't Charter. You do so much good, but then make everyone so upset on such a trivial matter. This is not security, It is designed to make it a pain in the ass to take your device remotely.

James_M

Hi and welcome!

The Spectrum TV app is limited to two simultaneous streams for each unique set of credentials while outside of the home network (on home network is unlimited). If you have more than two, you may be prompted to change the password. This is a security feature and can not be changed or overridden.

One alternative is to create additional profiles for each user outside the home network by logging into your Spectrum account, selecting "More" -> Settings ->People and adding additional profiles for any location out the home by creating unique username and password credentials for each profile. This will prevent the additional log ins from being flagged, and should reduce or eliminate the frequency that you are prompted to change the password.

Since you have a few devices outside the home network that are used on a regular basis, our system does distinguish these as expected or unexpected logins, which is why you get the password change request. Because your credentials are associated with other account features, like Spectrum Mobile and your Spectrum My Account, there is a higher priority on security than you would see on other streaming services. The purpose is to ensure your information remains safe, and creating a unique login for each device outside the home should resolve this issue.

Let us know if this works for you or if you have any other questions.

Satch

Welcome!

There are many unknowns here. It could be something on your son's computer or device. it could be something on your own computer or device. it could be an Internet bot, it could be web tracking, too hard to say.

I think that your Spectrum email may have gotten hacked. Spectrum provides this email account as a courtesy service, left over from the Time Warner Cable Road Runner years. About twenty years ago! You are using email that is twenty years old. Not saying you had the account that long, but what Spectrum lacks in email is a very important security protocol refereed to as "Two Way Authorization/" Modern email accounts have the ability to activate this feature, allowing users to be notified by such things as a back up email, text message, phone call, whenever there is a suspected log in to your account.

I would seriously switch from Spectrum email to a modern webmail provider such as Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail, or Gmail. Use the Ghostery ad blocker to stop pop-up banner ads and trackers. Or use the Brave Browser, which blocks trackers and adverts right out of the gate with no ad blocking add-ons needed.

If you want to stick with Spectrum email, both you and your son should clear out your web history, cookies, and cache, and change your email password before Spectrum gives you the suspicious activity message. Use at least one capital letter, one number, and one non-alpha-numeric character Such as a * % or $ in your password. Do this as well, if you switch to web-mail.

Update your Operating systems so that they have the latest updates.

Satch

HT_Greenfield

What Satch said but also, if you're unable to stay signed in on the Roku up at the cabin all year round without having to dink around with your password once a month, i'd create yet another account credential set just for that and see what happens.

Deano61

I like this idea, at least if I have to change pw every month it is only on one device instead of multiple and it may fix the problem. I'll try and see what happens and report back.

Satch

Thanks for posting back @Deano61

I would try both my ideas and @HT_Greenfield 's as well. See if that makes a difference and let us know!

Satch

PS. If you install the Brave Browser, set your Security Shields to "High" or "Advanced" or "Strong" in settings. I can't remember the word they use for the highest setting. But that will help get rid of all the Internet trackers and ads.

Deano61

Just to comment on Satch's post, We only get the suspicious activity message when logging on to the spectrum App not when logging onto email. I'm the only one who actually uses the Charter.net email. My email never gets locked, only the spectrum app. Transitioning to a new email client would be very disruptive as it is tied to so many accounts. But I will strongly consider your suggestion. Thanks for responding.

James_M

@Deano61

(duplicated post intentionally for continuity & flow)

Hi and welcome!

The Spectrum TV app is limited to two simultaneous streams for each unique set of credentials while outside of the home network (on home network is unlimited). If you have more than two, you may be prompted to change the password. This is a security feature and can not be changed or overridden.

One alternative is to create additional profiles for each user outside the home network by logging into your Spectrum account, selecting "More" -> Settings ->People and adding additional profiles for any location out the home by creating unique username and password credentials for each profile. This will prevent the additional log ins from being flagged, and should reduce or eliminate the frequency that you are prompted to change the password.

Since you have a few devices outside the home network that are used on a regular basis, our system does distinguish these as expected or unexpected logins, which is why you get the password change request. Because your credentials are associated with other account features, like Spectrum Mobile and your Spectrum My Account, there is a higher priority on security than you would see on other streaming services. The purpose is to ensure your information remains safe, and creating a unique login for each device outside the home should resolve this issue.

Let us know if this works for you or if you have any other questions.

The_General

Agree with the original poster that this "feature" is extremely disruptive and is clearly NOT "unusual behavior". If it were unusual behavior, why would this not lock the login from ALL devices instead of just the Roku device in question?

I would love to create a separate account for this device as changing passwords on all devices is extremely disruptive. Unfortunately, Spectrum is telling me that I am limited to 5 accounts. I have 5 family members that are using the accounts.

So, I'm stuck.

Hopefully this can get fixed soon.