Spotify Takes Off Kid Gloves On Music Pirates, Disables Suspect Accounts

There are currently two versions of Spotify that users can avail themselves of. There’s the free version, which offers limited music options and a ton of ads. There’s the Premium version, which removes all restrictions and all ads. Other than paying for the service, however, pirates have discovered that they can run a modified version of the app in order to get Premium features for free. Spotify has been locking out the participants of this scheme from their accounts.

Users who were identified by Spotify to be using a hacked version of the app have been sent emails by the company to inform them that it has detected unusual activities in their accounts, Torrent Freak reports. As a result, these users can no longer access their profiles.

“We detected abnormal activity on the app you are using so we have disabled it. Don’t worry – your Spotify account is safe,” the email reads. “To access your Spotify account, simply uninstall any unauthorized or modified version of Spotify and download and install the Spotify app from the official Google Play Store. If you need more help, please see our support article on Reinstalling Spotify.”

As The Verge notes, the company has not yet deleted these accounts and as the email clearly shows, there is still a way for these users to get their accounts back. However, if the users continue with their illicit activities, Spotify warns that their accounts will be terminated.

The company’s desperation to clean up its platform is likely in preparation for its upcoming IPO. With Spotify set to go public, it will need to convince investors that it is worth the money that it is asking them to throw at it. Users running hacked versions of the app to access Premium features that they have not paid for is just bad optics.