Popcorn Time, which has gained a reputation as the Netflix of pirated content, will now work in your browser.
Although the popcorninyourbrowser.net site is not officially affiliated with the Popcorn Time that has been a regular fixture in the news these past few months, it does allow users to watch a pirated movie incredibly easily, before streaming it from the web.
Popcorn Time spokesman speaks out
“This website has nothing to do with Popcorn Time except for its name, though we’re totally supportive of their work and think it’s a cool initiative,” read an email from a Popcorn Time spokesperson.
“Also the technologies they use on ‘Popcorn in your Browser’ are nothing like Popcorn Time technologies and don’t allow any of the versatile and advanced features Popcorn Time enables its user,” the email continued. “We’re also not sure if this website can support a high velocity of users using the service simultaneously.”
The original Popcorn Time was first seen last year, but was quickly shut down. It has since returned after moving abroad, and can still be accessed at popcorn-time.se, although users now have to download a plugin.
How does it work?
Popcorninyourbrowser allows direct streaming without any downloads, and the content is apparently drawn from torrent site YTS and remote torrenting service Coinado.
The Motion Picture Association of America said that “the content on Yts.re supports desktop torrent streaming application ‘Popcorn Time,’ which has an install base of 1.4 million devices and more than 100,000 active users in the United States alone.”
Popcorninyourbrowser.net is far from sophisticated, containing just a few recommendations. Instead, type the name of the movie you want to watch in the search box, and select one from the results. The movie will then start to load in your browser, although reports claim that the quality leaves a lot to be desired.
Popcorn Time itself contains a built-in VPN, which means that your ISP cannot detect illegal activity on your machine. However Popcorninyourbrowser.net does not have such protection, and users could find themselves prosecuted for watching pirated movies using the service.