Free streaming for millions of Britons could now be a thing of the past.
Cloudflare, a global network designed to shield websites and internet-powered services from online attacks, bolster security and performance, has started to block access to a swathe of pirate streaming sites across the UK in a bid to stop piracy in its tracks.
The decision to block these sites was taken due to a recent legal order, widely believed to have been taken out by the Motion Picture Association (MPA). Cloudflare has shut off access to over 200 domains with the flip of a switch.
For those who don't know, online piracy refers to accessing or streaming copyrighted content without permission from the copyright holder. In other words: if you're streaming a film for free on a website that's only available as a paid rental from digital storefronts like Amazon Prime, iTunes, or Rakuten... chances are, you're pirated it.
If you're engaging with these pirate sites, then you can expect to have Cloudflare's Error HTTP 451 page pop up as a result. This code is reserved only for websites that are breaking the law.
If you attempt to access one of these websites, Cloudflare will flag-up a HTTP 451 error page
|CLOUDFLARE
Many internet service providers, such as Sky, BT, and Virgin Media, are already actively blocking the pirate streaming sites from prior court orders and protection efforts.
While many have been able to bypass the blocks with the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Cloudflare has ensured that this won't be possible now. VPNs are designed to hide your original IP address, which makes it difficult for authorities and organisations to track illegal downloads or streams back to you directly.
Cloudflare, however, is blocking this possibility altogether. Geo-blocking is now being used, which simply makes these websites not available in the UK at all. This means if your server is based in the UK, then your VPN won't be able to bypass the block. If you're outside of the UK, then there's still a chance for you to get around the blocks.
Many Britons turn to pirating content because they either find the costs to download or stream too high, or the content available doesn't match their preferences
|YOUGOV
In a survey conducted by YouGov, 27% of consumers have acquired content or services like TV shows, movies, podcasts or work software illegally. When it comes to the reason why, the majority of respondents (34%) confirmed that their desired content isn't available in official or digital stores. Other reasons include:
- Prices are too high, and consumers are refusing to pay
- Not being able to afford the content they want
- Pirating is seen as easier and more convenient
- Not wanting to give publishing/developing companies money
- Influenced by others in the community who are pirating content
If you're engaging in piracy streaming, this can put you at an increased risk for malware infections, data breaches, exposure to inappropriate content, as well as potential legal consequences.
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."
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 burrows into every corner of your device from anywhere in the world
According to a survey conducted by FACT, 49% of respondents who illegally stream in the UK have either experienced or know someone who has fallen victim to scams, ID theft, fraud or data loss as a result. Among these respondents, 41% have also been exposed to inappropriate content.
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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.
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.
Online piracy in the UK can potentially lead to hefty penalties, including large fines and imprisonment. The maximum penalty for streaming copyrighted material without permission is unlimited fines or up to 10 years in prison.
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