Amazon Fire Stick illegal streaming exposed in new warning update
Criminals are increasingly using illegal streams of live sport, particularly on devices like Amazon's £25 Fire Stick, not only to distribute unauthorised content but also to steal credit card information and install malware on users' gadgets.
Enders Analysis has released a report highlighting the problem of pirated video as a lure set by criminals, criticising big tech for insufficient action against what it describes as "industrial scale theft". The investigation discovered that illegal streaming services are now accessed by one in eight young people aged 16 to 24 and described the fight against such practices as a "formidable challenge".
The report slams major technology companies for showing "a combination of ambivalence and inertia", accusing them of neglecting security enhancements and inadvertently directing consumers towards illegitimate services.
It highlighted three main reasons piracy was on the rise:
opportunistic restreaming of live events via social media platforms
streaming services deploying malware onto viewers' devices
and premium pirated TV subscriptions offered through devices like the Fire Stick, which are disguised as authorised providers.
According to the report: "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."
Europe is thought to have around 17 million people engaging with pirated TV services, costing the industry anywhere from £900 million to £21 billion annually, with a single illicit broadcast of a significant football game potentially attracting tens of thousands of viewers. The Fire TV Stick by Amazon is explicitly referred to as a "piracy enabler" in the report, reports the Mirror.
The gadget, a simple plug-in to the TV, offers a gateway to legitimate channels but has also become an instrument for illicitly streaming significant happenings.
Researchers at Enders Analysis found that users aren't required to delve into the 'dark net' to find them, as these services are quite openly hawked and touted.
Amazon revealed it has tightened the screws on its Fire TV platform to stymie access to unlicensed streams and cautions patrons about the perils of "sideloaded apps".
A spokesperson relayed: "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."
Nick Herm, COO at Sky Group, voiced his concern: "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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