Cash-strapped Britons are increasingly turning to illicit streaming devices — like modified Fire TV Sticks or unbranded IPTV boxes — to access a torrent of premium television shows and films at no cost. With the cost-of-living crisis gripping the UK, people have turned to criminal methods to access the boxset, documentaries, movies, and live sports fixtures that everyone is talking about. A recent YouGov poll found that one in 10 people in Great Britain admitted to streaming content illegally — despite the dangers associated with these services.
But while it might seem tempting to ditch the best Sky Glass deals in favour of a 'fully loaded' Fire TV Stick or another 'dodgy' set-top box due to the low cost — these devices come with a warning.
Law enforcement has started to crack down on these gadgets. In recent months, police working with anti-piracy organisation FACT and Sky TV triggered a nationwide operation, closing 3,000 adverts on social media for illegal IPTV services offering cut-price access to Sky Sports and other pay-TV channels, and handing out cease-and-desist orders to 40 people from Essex to Dundee.
These modified streaming gadgets are often referred to as "fully loaded", denoting their ability to stream copyrighted material at no cost or a lower monthly fee
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At the time, officers issued a warning, stating: "this is just the start of our enforcement efforts". This onsliught of police action has continued in recent weeks with an 11-year jail sentence, and the shuttering of several free Sky TV stream operations in the UK.
Outside of the activity from police forces across the UK, it's worth noting that using these illicit streaming devices can open up your home — not to mention, your bank account — to criminals. Yes, hackers can target everything inside your home by leveraging the Wi-Fi network. When you connect a dodgy box to your internet, it can open a route for cyber criminals to access other devices on your network.
Your passwords, financial data, and personal details are at risk when you're hacked.
Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, explained to The Sun: "As well as harvesting users' personal data this software, once enabled, means the box can also connect with a wider network of bots and be used by cybercriminals to gain revenue by mining cryptocurrency or clicking on ads."
Mr Briedis added that while PCs, tablets, and smartphones are usually the prime targets — because of the sheer amount of information these devices hold on us, smart home devices and Smart TVs often lack proper security measures, making them easy-pickings. Using one of the best VPN deals can protect your devices from cyber criminals since it encypts everything you do online.
Live sport fixtures drive a vast number of illicit streams, data from YouGov shows, with millions of Britons risking their personal data, credit cards, and more, to watch premium content for free YOUGOV He explained: "They contain access to your mobile and internet banking, identification details, contacts, email and messaging history, even notes apps that may contain passwords and hastily scrawled pin numbers."
"The trouble is that most people are now aware of the dangers of criminals accessing our mobile phones and PCs and have layers of security to minimise the risks of being hacked," Mr Briedis warned.
"Something like your TV, your Wi-Fi or your smart home devices are much less likely to have any protections and can be an easy entry point for cyber crooks."
Aside from enabling hackers in to your home, these dodgy devices can arrive preloaded with malware and other nasties too. Apps and websites that offer free downloads or streams of copyright-protected material can play hostt to malicious software that infects your device or network, putting your personal information at risk.
Simply by visiting one of these sites, without even clicking on content, you are at risk of receiving ‘drive-by malware’. The various types of malware include:
- Adware — malicious software designed to lure users to suspicious websites
- Spyware — as the name suggests, this is designed to eyeball what you're doing on-screen
- Ransomware — locks away your files (or device) entirely until the ransom is paid
- Trojans — software that buries into every corner of your device fromr anywhere in the world
The risks of using 'fully loaded' Fire TV Sticks, Kodi boxes, and other modified set-top boxes extend beyond legal consequences. Users expose themselves to data theft, fraud, and malware.
According to a 2022 study, almost half (49%) of Britons who illegally stream in the UK say they — or someone they know — have fallen victim to scams, ID theft, fraud, or data loss as a result of the free streaming. And 41% of those who regularly watch for free have been exposed to inappropriate content.
Unlike streamers like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Prime Video, which all offer strict parental controls and filters... many 'dodgy' IPTV boxes and 'fully loaded' Fire TV Sticks don't replicate these features.
As such, people report seeing pornography or blood-thirsty horror films listed next to family-friendly feature films and cartoons.
And the final risk of these streaming services is the impact on the industry as a whole: illicit streaming has a significant impact on the UK economy.
The PIPCU — Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit — at City of London Police carried out the week-long operation to clamp down on illicit streaming devices, like modified Fire TV Sticks
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According to the Intellectual Property Office, counterfeiting and piracy result in an annual loss of £9 billion and an estimated 80,000 jobs each year.
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, stated: "When people illegally stream they provide their personal information to criminals and the risks that result are very real."
Authorities warn that users of these services are committing an offence and can be prosecuted. The maximum penalty for streaming copyrighted material without permission is unlimited fines or up to 10 years in prison.
In Italy, Serie A chief Luigi De Siervo has proposed automatic fines of €5,000 (£4,200) for anyone caught watching an illegal streami. He stated, "Every illegal use of video content leaves an indelible digital Ariadne's thread that will allow law enforcement to prosecute pirates."
