Kodi communities are growing day by day, but still, questions like “Is Kodi Safe?” prevails. One should always be responsible while streaming content online, and Kodi is one such community which is completely safe to use. Yes, you heard that right. Kodi being an open source software allows all the independent developers to create add-ons and let the user stream content in a way which is somewhat illegal. But Kodi has developed its place in the heart of millions of its users. It is undoubtedly one of the best media players that provides you with local storage for media files but also facilitates free online streaming through various Kodi add-ons.
So today we are going to try to answer some common security and legal questions related to the Kodi. We hope that with the help of this guide all the confusions like “Is Kodi safe to use?” “Should I use Kodi?”, “Is Kodi Legal” will be cleared.
So let us begin.
What is Kodi?
Kodi can be defined generally as an application with a lot of abilities, but the software is mainly known for one function that it performs. This powerful, open source entertainment providing software thus imports, organizes and views your media library. So with Kodi, you can stream almost everything. The Kodi software is compatible with all devices like Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, Roku, Firestick, Xbox, Raspberry Pi, and Linux.
Launched in 2002, the Kodi software started as Xbox Media Player (XBMP) and later was changed to Xbox Media Center (XBMC). In August 2014, it was renamed as Kodi as association with Xbox could bring a lot of limitations. With renaming, the features of Kodi also expanded. The current version of Kodi was launched at the end of January 2019, called Kodi 18 Leia.
One thing that is important to know is that the feature of Kodi that allows unlimited streaming is the add-ons. While the official Kodi add-ons need a subscription, there are some third-party Kodi add-ons that the developers distribute for free.
Pros and Cons of Kodi
Here are a few pros and cons of Kodi that would help you know more about the features of the Kodi software. Also, you will get some hints about the legal status of the software.
Pros-
- Being an open-source software it lets the independent developers create their own third-party add-on
- You can access all your content (audio and visual) from one location
- Supports both video and audio file formats
- Kodi software is free of cost
- With unofficial Kodi add-ons, you can view free videos, TV series, movies, Live Sports, and much more.
Cons-
- Legality issues associated with Kodi, of which the Kodi users are usually unaware of.
- Most of the official Kodi add-ons do not work.
- Limited official Kodi add-ons
Is Kodi Legal?
If you choose to stick with the add-ons offered by the official Kodi website, then yes, Kodi is absolutely legal. And so when you will install the Kodi application, you will get an official built-in repository through which you can access the Kodi add-ons officially offered by the software.
On the other hand, if something is not offered by the Kodi app then, it goes under the third-party Kodi add-on and so is not safe and legal. However, they are the only enticing option to stream unlimited content for free as the official add-ons by Kodi doesn’t offer movies and TV Series for free.
And to be honest half of the official Kodi add-ons don’t even work. And so most of the users pick the third party add-ons to stream free videos. The nature of Kodi is open source and so even the collaboration of Kodi with HBO, Hulu, and Netflix like streaming giants doesn’t ensure an end to piracy.
Is Kodi Legal in the USA?
The legality of Kodi in different regions is a difficult question. In the USA the copyright laws against streaming free online content are not quite clear. Many people have got into a legal mess due to watching free content online. There have been legal notices, and a warning sent to the users for streaming content illegally.
And so free streaming of copyrighted content offered by the third-party add-ons is declared as an illegal action and the developers are bound to be incriminated. Also, distribution and selling of the copyright content are illegal as it is considered as the infringement of the laws. And as a result, the perpetrators have to pay a heavy fine and face even jail terms.
Thus it is best to leave all the probable outlooks aside and be safe online. ExpressVPN and IPVanish like strong and reliable VPN services can help you mask your online activities.
Are you Watching Illegal Kodi Add-ons and Apps?
It is very easy to distinguish between what is legal and illegal on Kodi. It has been made easy by Kodi itself. If you are looking for a certain Kodi repository or add-on then you must look it under the section Install from Repository. All the add-ons and apps under this option are official and safe to use.
You will be able to find all the add-ons developed by the various developers here.
Is Kodi Safe?
The Kodi application takes complete guarantee of the add-ons that are found under the official Kodi repository. But it doesn’t take the responsibility of the third-party add-ons which are developed by the independent developers.
The users usually install the third-party add-ons in view of watching movies and TV shows for free. As a result, we unknowingly download malware that helps in tracing us online. So streaming videos online on Kodi is safe till you are accessing it from the official add-ons.
How to Stream on Kodi Safely?
While streaming on Kodi your ISP, and even the Government has their eye on you and your activities online. But it is possible that you keep the prying eyes away from what you are doing online. And the easiest way to do it is by employing a VPN for Kodi. VPN service masks your activities online and doesn’t allow tracking or tracing of the same. And so if you are using a VPN service while streaming Kodi, do not worry and continue enjoying videos, movies, and TV shows online.
There are a lot of VPN services that provide you with Internet safety. Some of them like ExpressVPN is even Kodi friendly. It is one of the best and easiest precautions to remain safe o Kodi.
Wrapping Up
There are various misconceptions about the legality and safety of streaming on Kodi. It is completely safe and legal to stream videos on Kodi provided you use the official add-ons. But while using the third-party Kodi addons we would suggest you use to be alert and use VPN services for Kodi. We hope that this article was helpful in clearing your doubts regarding this amazing media player service. in case of any further questions or suggestions, hit the comment section.
