Latest news with #FireSticks
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Amazon warns illegal streamers of hidden danger on ‘dodgy' Fire Sticks used to watch Premier League games on the cheap
Sky calls for tougher action to address the problem STREAM OFF Amazon warns illegal streamers of hidden danger on 'dodgy' Fire Sticks used to watch Premier League games on the cheap AMAZON has warned Fire Stick users of the hidden dangers when using dodgy apps to illegally stream Premier League games and more on the cheap. A new report has pointed the finger at tech giants like Amazon for being "both friend and foe" in solving rampant piracy that's costing TV firms billions. Advertisement 2 Illegal streaming services often appear in adverts on social media Credit: Getty 2 Sky says illegal streaming is a 'serious issue' costing the industry billions Credit: Getty / AFP More than 50 per cent of Brits watching illegal streams on a physical device were found to be doing so via an Amazon product, according to research by Enders Analysis. Big broadcasters like Sky say Amazon isn't doing enough to address the issue. Nick Herm, Sky Group's chief operating officer said the report "highlights the significant scale and impact of piracy, particularly on premium live sport". "It's a serious issue for anyone who invests in creating and delivering world-class content," he explained to the BBC. Advertisement "We'd like to see faster, more joined-up action from major tech platforms and government to address the problem and help protect the UK creative industries." Amazon told The Sun it has made changes to its Fire TV devices to make it more difficult to stream pirated content. And it has on-device warnings to alert customers of the risks associated with sideloaded apps which are downloaded from outside the approved Amazon Appstore. Those risks are largely concerned with fraud. Advertisement There have been numerous cases of people looking to illegal streaming as a way to slash their TV bills, only to be left severely out of pocket. One victim recently revealed to The Sun how thousands was accessed from his bank account after signing up to one. Major Illegal Streaming Network Shut Down Across Europe Fortunately, his bank flagged it as fraud and stopped the payment, but not everyone has been so lucky. 'Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights, and compromises the security and privacy of our customers," a spokesperson said. Advertisement "We work with industry partners and relevant authorities to combat piracy and protect customers from the risks associated with pirated content. "Our Appstore prohibits apps that infringe upon the rights of third parties and we warn customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources.' Elsewhere in the report, Facebook-owner Meta was accused of being a source of adverts for illegal streaming devices.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon's Fire Stick enables ‘industrial scale' piracy', report warns
Amazon's Fire Stick streaming device is enabling piracy on an 'industrial scale', according to a new report. Research by Enders Analysis found that more than 50 per cent of people in the UK who have watched pirated material on a physical device in 2025 used an Amazon product. The Amazon Fire Stick, which plugs into TVs to give access to platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, can be modified to deliver illegal live streams of sporting events like Premier League matches. According to the report, this trend is costing 'billions of dollars in piracy' through lost broadcaster revenues. Other big tech firms, including Google and Meta, were accused in the report of 'ambivalence and inertia' for allowing the problem to continue. 'Big tech is both friend and foe in solving the piracy problem,' the report's authors noted. 'Conflicting incentives harm consumer safety by providing easy discovery of illegal pirated services, and reduced friction through low-cost hardware such as the Amazon Fire Stick.' Amazon said in a statement that it was 'vigilant in our efforts to combat piracy' and that it has made changes to Fire Sticks to deter people from streaming illegal content. "Pirated content violates our policies regarding intellectual property rights, and compromises the security and privacy of our customers," an Amazon spokesperson said. Recent figures have shown digital piracy to be on the rise across the UK and Europe, with financial hardships and increasingly costly and fractured streaming space cited as factors for the resurgence. It has resulted in a renewed crackdown against online piracy, with digital rights holders teaming up with law enforcement to catch those responsible. Last year, two men were imprisoned for selling reconfigured Amazon Fire Sticks, which were loaded with a bypass to watch sport and movie streaming services for free. 'These cases highlight the importance of protecting legitimate providers, as well as the significant impact that coordinated law enforcement efforts can have on combating digital piracy,' Kieron Sharp, CEO of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), told The Independent at the time. 'The message is very clear: if you sell a device that provides access to content that is not licensed to you or owned by you, you could face criminal investigation, prosecution and conviction.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Three Amazon Fire TV gadgets to lose access to Netflix FOREVER in three days – final warning to upgrade
that were also roughly a decade old Last year, the Netflix app vanished from dozens of Sony and Apple TV models that were also roughly a decade old BURNT OUT Three Amazon Fire TV gadgets to lose access to Netflix FOREVER in three days – final warning to upgrade NETFLIX is pulling its app from three Amazon Fire TV gadgets next week - so your subscription might be worthless unless you upgrade your tech. From 3 June, two Fire Sticks and a Fire TV box will lose Netflix forever. Advertisement 2 First-generation Fire TV Stick Credit: Amazon 2 First-generation Fire TV box Credit: Amazon The shutdown affects the first-generation Fire TV box, Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV Stick with Alexa voice remote - Amazon's oldest telly products. They are all more than a decade old. Even Amazon quit support for the devices several years ago - meaning they no longer receive software or security updates. But if you still use your OG Fire Stick, you should have received an email from Netflix warning of the upcoming change, according to PC World. Advertisement The first-generation Fire TV devices will continue to work as they have done - simply without Netflix. They have all the other apps, such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, Prime Video and Disney+ - for now. It's worth noting that like Netflix, other platforms may too decide to pull their services from ageing tech later down the line. Affected viewers who want to continue having uninterrupted access to Netflix will have to buy a newer Fire TV gadget - or a telly streaming rival like a Roku Stick or Google Streamer. Advertisement If you don't want to upgrade to a new Fire TV device, you should cancel your subscription, to avoid paying fees on something you can't watch. Legal ways to slash your Roku and Amazon Fire Stick TV bills by 100% – and Netflix 'plan swap' saves you money The streaming giant hasn't said exactly why it's pulling support for older gadgets. Last year, the Netflix app vanished from dozens of Sony and Apple TV models that were also roughly a decade old. A report from CordBusters noted that the decision was likely put down to newer video standards. Advertisement When streaming services start using newer technology, older devices may not have the necessary hardware or software to support the advancements. That's why some gadgets stop receiving new features, or are unable to stream in 4K picture quality. It's worth noting that while older devices don't necessarily need new features or better picture - security updates are always helpful. Security updates patch any bugs that can be exploited by cybercriminals, or fix glitches that can hinder your use of the device. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Three Amazon Fire TV gadgets to lose access to Netflix FOREVER in three days – final warning to upgrade
NETFLIX is pulling its app from three Amazon Fire TV gadgets next week - so your subscription might be worthless unless you upgrade your tech. From 3 June, two Fire Sticks and a Fire TV box will lose Netflix forever. 2 First-generation Fire TV Stick Credit: Amazon 2 First-generation Fire TV box Credit: Amazon The shutdown affects the first-generation Fire TV box, Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV Stick with Alexa voice remote - Amazon's oldest telly products. They are all more than a decade old. Even Amazon quit support for the devices several years ago - meaning they no longer receive software or security updates. But if you still use your OG Fire Stick, you should have received an email from Netflix warning of the upcoming change, according to . READ MORE ON AMAZON FIRE The first-generation Fire TV devices will continue to work as they have done - simply without Netflix. They have all the other apps, such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, Prime Video and Disney+ - for now. It's worth noting that like Netflix, other platforms may too decide to pull their services from ageing tech later down the line. Affected viewers who want to continue having uninterrupted access to Netflix will have to buy a newer Fire TV gadget - or a telly streaming rival like a Roku Stick or Most read in Tech If you don't want to upgrade to a new Fire TV device, you should cancel your subscription , to avoid paying fees on something you can't watch. Legal ways to slash your Roku and Amazon Fire Stick TV bills by 100% – and Netflix 'plan swap' saves you money The streaming giant hasn't said exactly why it's pulling support for older gadgets. Last year, the Netflix app that were also roughly a decade old. A report from noted that the decision was likely put down to newer video standards. When streaming services start using newer technology, older devices may not have the necessary hardware or software to support the advancements. That's why some gadgets stop receiving new features, or are unable to stream in It's worth noting that while older devices don't necessarily need new features or better picture - security updates are always helpful. Security updates patch any bugs that can be exploited by cybercriminals, or fix glitches that can hinder your use of the device. Where to buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick * If you click on a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue. AMAZON unveiled the first Fire TV Stick back in 2014 and since then has released various versions, the newest being the There are several places you can pick up a Fire Stick including: Shop Fire Sticks at Amazon - Shop Fire Sticks at Best Buy - Shop Fire Sticks at Target - Shop Fire Sticks at Home Depot - Shop Fire Sticks at Lowe's - We recommend shopping around for the best price, though so should be your first port of call.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Daily Record
Warning for Fire Stick users as Netflix will stop working on some devices next month
Some of the popular Amazon streaming sticks are about to lose out on all their favourite Netflix binge watches. With streaming services becoming more and more popular, Amazon's Fire Sticks allow users to access all their favourite shows in an easy and affordable way in comparison to forking out on a smart TV that will have all the platforms built in. By simply plugging the small device into a HDMI slot on any TV and connecting it to your home Wi-Fi, users will instantly have all their favourite content at their fingertips. From there, all users need to do is sign into their preferred streaming services and away you go. While they are a simple and affordable way to watch all your guilty pleasure TV shows and movies, this is about to change in a big way for some Fire TV Stick owners. From next month, it has been reported that some of the Amazon devices will lose their access to Netflix, reports the Express. PC Welt (via PC World) has reported that Amazon has sent out emails to some of its current Fire TV Stick owners informing them that, as of June 3 this year, they will no longer be able to stream Netflix on their first generation Fire TV devices. The three devices that are affected by the major change are: Amazon Fire TV Stick (2014) Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa voice remote (2014) Amazon Fire TV (2014) This shake up means owners of the first ever Fire TV Sticks have less than a fortnight left before they lose access to the biggest streaming service in the world. For those who have managed to still use their original Fire Sticks for more than a decade, this update will come as a huge blow to those who frequently use Netflix as their go to streaming service. While Amazon has yet to give a reason for its decision, PC Welt believes that it could be to do with the fact that Netflix uses the AV1 codec to stream higher picture quality on some of its plans, which unfortunately isn't supported by the 2014 Fire Stick models. This basically means that if first generation Fire Stick users tried to use their Premium Netflix plan to watch shows in 4K resolution, it won't be possible as the old device cannot support it. Due to this issue, it is likely that Netflix felt it was better to cut the cord with the older device than have customers unknowingly receive a worse service than they are paying for. For those who feel like may be affected by this change and want to keep using a Fire Stick for their streaming services, you are in luck as Amazon has currently knocked down the prices of the newest generation of Fire TV Sticks in a limited time sale. At the moment, the regular Fire TV Stick HD is down from £39.99 to £29.99. This device lets you stream all your favourite streaming services and live TV in full HD and it also comes with an Alexa function to make your searching easier. The next level up is the Fire TV Stick 4K which is reduced to £39.99 (RRP £59.99). If you are looking for a device with all the bells and whistles, then this is the choice for you. With 4K support along with Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, this Fire Stick also comes with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and HDR10+ support for a superb viewing experience. The most expensive device in the Amazon range is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. Now only £49.99, shoppers will be saving £20 on the retail price. As the only device with the official Xbox app, this high end Fire Stick also comes with Wi-Fi 6E as well as Amazon's new Fire TV Ambient Experience which will make you feel like you are in a museum. Alternatively, for those who want to step away from the hassle of Fire TV Sticks, Amazon has also reduced the price of a popular smart TV that will already have all the popular streaming services built in. The TCL 50' QLED 4K HDR TV normally retails for £449, but shoppers can now grab it for £100 less at only £349. At its lowest price in 30 days, this TCL TV comes with Fire TV and thanks to its QLED technology, this TV is said to deliver lifelike picture quality and vivid colours. Users will also be able to see the finest details due to the device possessing 4K HDR PRO. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
