Last Updated on July 5, 2022
FireStick is possibly the greatest entertainment unit of the century. It revolutionized people’s consumption habits, creating the perfect home cinema environment with lots of perks and benefits.
Whether you have been using FireStick since day one or are new to the club, you need to know about Kodi. It is a great buddy to partner up with your FireStick to maximize its full potential. Whenever there is a recommendation for the FireStick library, there is always concern about the legal aspect.
So, is Kodi legal to use? What does it do exactly? And should you install it on your FireStick?
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Is Kodi Legal to Use?
Absolutely. Whether you are in the US or overseas, Kodi is totally legal on its own. Kodi acts as a media player on its own. Whatever content you put inside, it automatically finds the most compatible method to play it for you.
Media players are always legal as long as they do not involve additional engines that host TV shows or movies. Kodi is a medium to stream the videos from other apps. The legality of Kodi is fierce not because of the software itself, but because of the sources people take the content from.
The legal debates have never been about how legal Kodi is, but how the official platform can eradicate the use of illegal content through Kodi. Simply put, if you use Kodi to stream movies and TV shows that you have paid for, it is completely legal.
Unfortunately, what many other people do is modify the Kodi box to access the otherwise-locked content. Premium
content includes shows that are exclusive to certain members or come at an extra cost.
These modified Kodi boxes bypass the channels and directly stream the content. In this case, using Kodi becomes illegal because you are reaping content without paying. A prime example would be streaming live football matches that are often premium to paying members on various channels. Lots of Kodi users follow the so-called hacks they found online to stream these events. Legal matters aside, these “hacks” often contain viruses and you will get a lot of other unwanted apps off-loaded onto your FireStick during the process. You have nothing to win from saving a few extra bucks.
Basically, if you are an everyday user that adheres to the rules and regulations, you will not have any problem using Kodi. On the contrary, if you have to break the law and stream illegally, it does not matter which software you use because you will get yourself in a legal battle anyway. It is not about the app but the usage.
What is Kodi?
Formerly known as XBMC, Kodi is an open-source multi-media player that pulls any audio, video, and other content you want on any smart device. Considerably one of the most powerful entertainment platforms, Kodi is free of charge. Enjoying 4K movies is no longer a luxury that will cost an arm and a leg.
Kodi draws content online and allows you to play from your smartphone, computer, or TV. It synchronizes the content across all the platforms so users can keep track of their watch history and time stamp on each file.
It organizes all your content by gathering the sources and arranging them systematically. In addition, you can also import your local media files and revisit the content anytime you want.
Of all the add-ons for FireStick, Kodi ranks high on the list. It is a very popular software that most users have. Your device is transformed into a media center so you can perform searches to locate any specific file.
What Can Kodi Do for Your FireStick?
With Kodi, a better question is, what can’t you do? With Kodi, the possibilities are endless. You are exposed to a world of fun and excitement. Here are some of the main things you can do with your Kodi with other add-ons.
1. Record live TV
Sitting at home catching every live football match or the all-star NBA is a luxury in life. Most people cannot take time off work to watch a game. Your favorite TV channel may not upload the full clip online for you to view later. Even if it does, the commentary may be different.
Catching the whole live stream is a must for sports lovers. Kodi connects you to your go-to channel. You just have to set up a timer and it automatically records the live stream. Recording the TV is hardly anything new. It has been around way before smart TVs came out.
But the best part about Kodi is that it connects to the app of your choice. It keeps the quality high and it can even follow the real-time schedule so you do not miss the overtime. The recording will keep going past the scheduled time if the channel is extending the air time. That is something a traditional TV cannot compete with.
2. Pulls all your favorite channels in one
Kodi is particularly popular among sports fans for obvious reasons. Lots of the features are designed to benefit sporting events. You can pull all your favorite channels in Kodi and jump from one to another immediately.
It does more magic than most people give it credit for. Not everyone watches these sporting events uninterrupted. When the commentator is awful, the station is not airing the best angles, or there are too many commercial breaks, viewers would want to switch to another station without losing quality content.
Finding your way through thousands of channels can be slow, especially since you are jumping between apps. But when you are doing everything within Kodi, the other channel is just one button away. You will not lose more than 3 seconds before you are back cheering for your team.
3. You can use it on any device
The compatibility level of Kodi is unmatched. From your smartphone, tablet, laptop, to TV, Kodi is here to serve. The developers have invested tremendous resourcing to bring regular updates to further stabilize the software. Its performance over the year has only been stronger.
4. All your content is synchronized across all signed-in devices
Another big selling point for Kodi is how it organizes your content. It is not uncommon for the city commuters to stream from their phone on their way to work and finish the episode later at home on TV.
Due to the respective app settings, you may prefer to switch apps depending on the device. It is hideous to count the time stamp manually and keep track of your progress. Kodi automatically synchronizes the content on all your platforms so you can pick up right where you left off, even on another app.
5. It is fast and safe
There is no better reason to choose an app. Regardless of the performance, you should never download an app that you cannot verify. Reputable apps prove their reliability as they have been tested by thousands of users. You know it is safe to use and there is no virus packed into the software.
The small-time apps can advertise their brilliant features all they want. And perhaps they can indeed deliver. But you never know if the developers have packed a little extra in the file for their own gain or just to mess with people. Putting your sole trust in recognizable apps will get you far. This is the first lesson on online security that everyone needs to know about.
Should You Install Kodi on Your FireStick?
If you enjoy watching premium TV shows and movies uninterrupted with the best quality, then Kodi is the right app for you. There is really nothing that holds you back. Kodi is free and it barely takes up any space. Furthermore, it is compatible with plenty of add-ons. It is the ultimate all-in-one media hub.
The misunderstanding about the legality of Kodi should not be a concern as we have addressed it. What you should be careful of is always to make sure you are downloading apps to watch the shows that you have paid for.
You need the required membership to access some channels so be sure you have paid your bills. In general, unless you go out of your way to find hacks to break the security, you will not be able to infiltrate premium channels without a subscription. Therefore, it is highly impossible to accidentally stumble upon an exclusive sporting event and break the law.
How to Post Illegal Online Streaming Sites?
When you are streaming online, you do have to be on your guard because there are quite a few illegal ones out there. First of all, you need to understand the difference between a streaming service and a media player.
In Kodi’s case, it is just a media player like your regular Quick Time Player and VLC. It does not actually host any content in its library. It is only drawing the content from the sites that host it. But to choose the right host, you need to find a legal provider so you can keep yourself safe. Here are a few things to look out for that will help you spot the bad fruits on the tree.
1. The site has other platform’s original content
This should be the biggest warning sign that you are streaming from an illegal site. Original TV series and movies are exclusively reserved for the producing platform. They do not share their right with others to list the content on other sites.
Seeing various blockbusters owned by other platforms tells you this site is definitely sourcing its content illicitly. When you stream the movie, it will even have the other platform’s logo popping up. This will never happen on an official platform. Competitors tend to avoid showing other companies’ logos.
2. The lack of an app version
To stay competitive, a streaming service provider will want to develop an app version to reach more audiences. The lack of an app version could suggest the site is unable to because it will never be listed anywhere legally.
Besides, developing a functioning app is expensive. If they are stealing content, they do not have the capacity or capital to back them up as the original content owners do. On top of that, developing an app is risky for them because it will be easier to track. They certainly do not want their identities exposed. Hence, apps are off-limit.
3. Suspicious ads
Legit services will only run acceptable ads on their platforms. On illegal sites, users often encounter sketchy ads that link to sex sites or random game sites. No proper provider will ever allow this on their site as it significantly damages its reputation.
Never click on the suspicious ads. Close it at once and it is time to stop browsing.
4. You can download the content
Downloading the content is not the same as watching it offline. Most platforms have the option to temporarily store a movie or episode in the app so you can access it without connecting to the internet. The content is stored on the app itself, not your device library. Once you remove the app, you will not be able to keep the content.
If a site offers to let you download the content directly onto your computer, that is as illegal as it can be. Copyright owners are careful about having their content downloaded. You will not find a producing company that allows viewers to casually keep the content on their computer and share it with others.
What are Some Online Safety Tips?
1. Use a VPN
The importance of a VPN service is repeatedly stressed. Still, a lot of people are not aware of how it can literally save your life. Without a VPN, your personal data is an open book in the sea of information floating online. Anyone that knows the internet can fetch your information for evil purposes. They will know where you live, what your card details are, and even your relationships with others by looking at your digital footprint.
A VPN diverts your online traffic to a random location to throw potential predators off. They will be confused by the mixed signals and cannot trace your real whereabouts. Although using official apps exclusively will minimize the problem, it does not mean you are risk-free. Every user will always be at risk of being a victim of online crimes.
2. Remember to log out if you are using your FireStick in a public location
Bringing your FireStick with you on a business trip is fine as long as you follow the safety rules. Since you are less likely to have a private router in the hotel, you need to remind yourself to log out every time after use.
Before you go to bed, leave the room, or check out, sign out of all the accounts. It may be a tad annoying to sign back in every time during your stay but it is a good way to keep your accounts secure.
3. Avoid connecting to public wifi if possible
Public wifi usually has the weakest security as its prime focus is to allow fast access for as many users as possible. The absence of security protocol in these places makes them an easy target for criminals. You may be a sitting duck because hackers could have been waiting for the perfect victim to show up.
Whenever you are in public, be extremely careful about connecting to the wifi. If you must connect to it, at least make sure your VPN is on so you can avoid these vicious attacks.
4. Keep all your apps up to date
Updating the apps is more than about a performance boost. It enhances the compatibility with the latest security system so your VPN can work its magic. An outdated app may not be covered and you will lose the protection.
You can either update the app in your inventory manually or let the system run the automatic updates. Preferences can be changed in the settings.
Only share your account password with trusted family members and friends. You should not hand out your login credentials like charity. It increases the chance of your details being accidentally leaked. Even if you fully trust the people around you, keeping the details to yourself will still reduce the risk of a security breach.
Updating your password regularly is another approach to keeping your account safe. Changing your password once a month would be the most ideal but for users that have a hard time keeping track of new passwords, once every six months will suffice. You should not go for a whole year without changing your password.
Summary
Not only is Kodi legal to use, but it is also probably the best media player. Its high compatibility allows for streaming anytime and anywhere. You will never miss a show again. Get Kodi now to fully push what your device can achieve.
