While you may enjoy watching free movies and TV shows on 123movies, is 123movies safe?
This popular site has been long-plagued with issues concerning its legality, which has led to it being blocked in certain countries around the world.
Because this website is geo-restricted in many locations, clone sites have popped up to cater to users who are craving their 123movies fix. Unfortunately, some of these copycat sites not only host movies but also viruses and malware that can easily infect users‘ computers and devices if they are not careful.
Because of this risk, the smartest way to use 123movies is to first connect to a reputable virtual private network (VPN).
Using a VPN is the safest way to connect to any free streaming website these days. When you connect to a VPN service, your IP address is concealed, and your online traffic is encrypted. This protects your privacy and secures your activity anytime you are accessing 123movies, or any alternatives to 123movies online.
Our top pick for the best VPN for accessing sites like 123movies is ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN can unblock geo-restricted content in any location, and it uses top-of-the-line security features to make sure you are protected at all times on any website you visit.
Keep reading this article to find out some of the best solutions that will help you protect yourself whenever you are accessing 123movies
*VPN Brains does not condone illegal activity online, including downloading or sharing copyrighted content.
In a Hurry? Here’s How to Access 123movies in a Safe Way
Legal Consequences of Using 123movies
While certain countries frown upon the use of 123movies and sites like 123movies, others outright deem 123movies illegal.
The consequences, if you are caught using this site, will differ depending on what country you are in when watching your movies and shows on 123movies.
In one particular region, people may get slaps on the wrist if caught on this website, while, in another country that takes copyright laws more seriously, people may be prosecuted if caught streaming illegal content.
Because it is hard to predict what the punishment may be if you are caught using a website like 123movies, it is best to take preventative measures to protect yourself before venturing to this site.
How to Stay Safe When Watching 123movies
The most surefire method of protecting yourself when watching movies and shows on 123movies is by using a VPN. A VPN conceals the actual IP address that makes you and your location identifiable on the Internet.
When you connect to a VPN server in a particular country, your IP then reflects the VPN server IP instead of your real IP. This way, your Internet Service Provider, authorities, and prying eyes will not be able to identify you online, and will not be able to connect any illegal activity to you.
On top of this, reputable VPNs offer safety and security features like AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a Kill Switch, and IP and DNS leak protection, all of which help keep your activity secure and keep you away from harm.
5 Best VPNs for 123movies
1. ExpressVPN
Time and time again, no matter how many articles we write and how much research we do, ExpressVPN always seems to edge out its competition for the No. 1 spot on our list.
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in over 94 countries worldwide, and it is the best VPN to use whenever you are watching content on 123movies, or any similar free streaming website. Whether you’re connecting to a local server or a server around the globe, your Internet privacy — as well as your Internet connection speeds — when using this VPN service will be the very best.
ExpressVPN can unblock your movies and TV content on streaming services like Hulu, Disney Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as Sling TV and free sites like 123movies.
ExpressVPN offers military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, and an OpenVPN protocol across all platforms, so all of your information will remain private and secure at all times.
ExpressVPN has a verified no-logs policy, and because this VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, you can breathe a little easier knowing that all of your activity and information will remain private and out of government reach.
ExpressVPN is compatible with all main platforms, including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS; and users can connect up to 5 simultaneous devices on a single account.
If you are a newbie to the world of VPNs, it’s great to note that ExpressVPN has some of the most responsive, knowledgeable customer support around; And you can subscribe with no strings attached, since ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Can unblock popular sites like Netflix
- 24/7 Live-chat support
- Top security and privacy features
- Super-fast speeds
- 5 simultaneous device connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- More expensive than the other VPNs
2. NordVPN
With more than 5,400 servers in over 59 countries, NordVPN is among the best VPN services to use for watching your favorite movies and content on 123movies, or any other free streaming site.
NordVPN can unblock popular movies and TV content on streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as Sling TV and free sites like 123movies.
Nord’s security and privacy features are great, with AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, IP and DNS leak protection, a Kill Switch, and an OpenVPN protocol that will help you stay safe; and its CyberSec feature also provides an extra layer of protection from malware and annoying ads that frequently pop up on some free sites.
If you are worried about surveillance, it’s good to note that NordVPN is based in Panama, outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and it also offers a strict zero-logs policy.
Nord is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS; and you can use up to 6 devices simultaneously with a single subscription.
You can easily access NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat support in case any problems or questions arise; and if, for some reason, you are not happy with this service, you can get your money back with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- No-logging policy
- Fast download speeds
- Live-chat customer support
- Military-grade 256-bit Encryption
- Cheaper price than ExpressVPN
- 6 simultaneous user connections
- Speeds can be slower in advanced mode
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is a reliable VPN that will help keep you safe and protected from malware, and anonymous online when streaming 123movies, or any similar site.
Surfshark can unblock your favorite TV shows and movies on streaming services like Hulu, Disney Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, as well as free sites such as 123movies.
Surfshark passes all the tests for security features with its Military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, split tunneling, double encryption, Kill Switch, and its special CleanWeb suite, which blocks ads and protects against malware that is rampant on free sites.
This VPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, outside of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and it has a strict no-logging policy, so you should never be worried that your online activity is ever being tracked or kept.
With this VPN, users can connect an unlimited number of devices to a single account, making it a great option for people with large families or more than a handful of devices to connect at once.
Surfshark also offers 24/7 live-chat support, and you can get a refund within 30 days, giving you the chance to try this VPN for plenty of time with no strings attached.
- No-logging policy
- Unlimited device connections
- 24/7 live-support
- Good download speeds
- Top security features
- Slower speeds than other VPNs
4. CyberGhost
CyberGhost has over 7,300+ servers in more than 91 countries around the world.
Its speeds are pretty reliable, with only some minor lags here and there, which makes it a good choice for streaming HBO GO, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and 123Movies, among other media sites.
You can connect a pretty sizable 7 devices simultaneously to a single CyberGhost account, which is more than what NordVPN and ExpressVPN allow.
CyberGhost offers 256-bit AES encryption, a Kill Switch, and a built-in ad blocker. On top of this, It is based in Romania, which is out of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. Its location, together with its reassuring zero logs policy, ensures that your activity will never be kept or tracked.
Unlike the other VPN services, CyberGhost offers each user a 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you more time than its competitors offer to change your mind with no penalty.
- Good streaming speeds
- No-logging policy
- Top security and privacy features
- Large server size
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Use up to 7 connections at once
- Slower long-distance speeds
5. UltraVPN
UltraVPN is among the smallest of the VPNs with around 100 servers spread across 90 locations. Despite this, I was impressed with UltraVPN’s connection speed and reliability.
UltraVPN has strong security with 256-bit encryption, and options to use IKEv2, UDP, or TCP protocols, and an automatic Kill Switch that will protect your data in the event that your Internet fails.
UltraVPN does not have any ad-blocking feature included.
If you are worried about surveillance, it is important to note that UltraVPN is based in the US and that the US is a 5/9/14 Eyes country. While UltraVPN claims it does not keep logs, when we checked further, we found that it does collect the user‘s IP address, location, and device information, but not any logs of your activity.
- Top encryption
- Kill switch
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Connect 5 devices simultaneously
- Keeps some logs
- Slower speeds
- In the privacy-unfriendly US
Alternatives to 123movies
If you are looking to access free movies and shows using a reliable, safe streaming service, here are some of the safer free streaming sites that users can access in 2021 that will appeal to people of all different tastes:
Tubi: Tubi offers thousands of movies from which to choose, including classics, horror films, and action movies.
Pluto TV: On this streaming site, you can watch great movies and shows, as well as free live TV, with content ranging from sports to news, to general entertainment.
Hoopla: This free streaming service is a great alternative to a site like 123movies, with a range of shows and movies from which to choose that can be accessed by using a library card.
Roku TV: As you may have guessed by the site name, Hoopla is a great streaming service, but only if you are using the Roku platform.
Locast: This is one of the best streaming services to use as an alternative to 123movies if you want to watch your local channel content, including news, sports, and other local favorites.
Kanopy: Like Hoopla, you will need a library card to access content on this site, which offers more of the popular IMDb movies than Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix.
IMDb TV: This is one of the smallest of the streaming services on this list, with only a few hundred movies available. The reason it has made it onto this list is because of the quality and popularity of its movies and content.
FAQs
I’m sorry to report that there is not a clear answer to this question. 123movies may be legal for one user, while illegal for another user, depending on where these users are located.
Because different countries have their own laws regarding copyright infringement and piracy, it is important to check the laws in your location if you want to be sure you know the risks you are facing by accessing a site like 123movies in your region.
Wherever you are located, though, using a VPN is the best way to make sure that you are protected anytime you inadvertently step over the line of the law.
We highly recommend using a VPN, as well as an ad-blocker, to keep your devices safe and protected from harmful malware on any websites you visit.
Conclusion
Because, in most countries, it’s hard to deem 123movies legal and safe to use, the very best protection you can take to ensure your safety and security on the Internet when using this site, or websites like it, is to subscribe to a reputable VPN.
A VPN will keep your IP and online activity hidden from Internet Service Providers, hackers, authorities, and third parties, letting you access and the website you want without the huge risk of malware or breaches in privacy that usually comes with free streaming websites.
ExpressVPN is our top pick whenever we are looking to unblock restricted services or stream content on sites that are known for pop-ups and ads online. The security features that ExpressVPN provides allows us to watch our shows without worrying about the risk that comes with accessing these free sites.
We hope you found this article helpful!
