Urgent warning to anyone with an illegal 'Amazon Fire Stick'
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Illegal sports streams, such as those accessed through Amazon's £25 Fire Stick, are being harnessed by criminals to steal credit card details and spread malware.
Enders Analysis has released a report slamming the use of pirated video as a "enticing store front" for criminal activity, criticising big tech companies for not adequately addressing "industrial scale theft". The study reveals that one in eight younger individuals between 16 and 24 years old now access illegal streams, branding the fight against the issue a "formidable challenge".
Big tech is under fire for displaying "a combination of ambivalence and inertia". They are accused of neglecting to bolster security and inadvertently directing customers towards illegal services.
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According to the report, piracy thrives due to three main practices; the first involves "opportunistic" restreaming on social media.
The report states: "Pirated services are part of sustained efforts, mostly by organised crime, to gain access to consumer data and online identity, infect devices with malware and enrich their criminal enterprises.", reports the Mirror.
It also highlights a second threat where streaming platforms embed malware into users' devices.
Furthermore, it points out the dangers of paid-for pirate TV channels, available through gadgets like the Fire Stick, which pose as bona fide operations.
In Europe alone, around 17 million people are tuning into pirated TV services, costing the industry anywhere from £900million to an eye-watering £21billion annually. Even a single illicit feed of a high-profile football match can attract tens of thousands of watchers.
The report notably tags Amazon's Fire TV Stick as a "piracy enabler".
The device, which connects to a TV providing access to thousands of legitimate services, is also being misused to illegally stream major events. Research by Enders has revealed that users do not need to "search the darkest corners of the web" as these pirate services are "openly marketed and promoted".
Amazon has responded by saying it's made changes to Fire TV to make it tougher to stream pirated content and cautions customers against "sideloaded apps".
A spokesperson for Amazon remarked: "We remain vigilant in our efforts to combat piracy and protect customers from the risks associated with pirated content, which includes prohibiting apps that infringe upon the rights of third parties in our Appstore, and warning customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources."
Sky Group COO, Nick Herm, highlighted: "It's a serious issue for anyone who invests in creating and delivering world-class content. We'd like to see faster, more joined-up action from major tech platforms and government."
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