Man illegally streaming Premier League games jailed after making '£100k a month'
A man has been jailed for his role in a £1 million illegal TV streaming operation after police stormed his home.
Stephen Woodward sold illegal access to copyrighted material, including Sky Sports and BT Sports, spending the proceeds on holidays, designer clothes, and a £91,000 Jaguar F-Type V8.
The 36-year-old used the websites IPTV Hosting, Helix Hosting, and Black and White to provide illegal access to the channels, and would sell subscriptions via card payments, StokeonTrentLive reports.
A total of 13 different PayPal accounts owned by Woodward would receive the payment, as well as payment services such as Circle.
After receiving the money, he would convert it into Cryptocurrency and then back into regular currency before depositing it in 23 banks accounts.
In November 2019, Woodward was arrested and would plead guilty to distributing articles infringing copyright as well as four money laundering offences. He was sentenced to three years and one month in jail.
His younger brother Christopher Woodward, 34, received £126,000 as a result of the operation, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 15 months in jail suspended for 12 months as well 240 hours of unpaid work.
Police investigating the operation also secured an all-assets restraint order over some £1.1 million held by the elder Woodward brother. Some £144,121 worth of cash was also seized from him in the investigation, and this was frozen.
The force searched Stephen Woodward's home upon his arrest, seizing a computer, a hard drive, nine phones, and £4,760 in cash which was found in a desk drawer.
Officers also seized around 100 envelopes which each contained a SIM card with a name written on it. These SIM cards had been used by the elder Woodward to open PayPal and bank accounts under false identities which he purchased online.
Stephen Woodward was released under investigation as police continued their enquiries.
Analysis of his phone revealed he had been communicating with a number of companies in order to help run the website IPTV Hosting.
And, in messages to Christopher, Stephen Woodward claimed he was making some £100,00 a month through his illegal streaming.
Officers were still investigating IPTV Hosting in 2020 when the Federation Against Copyright Theft, FACT, alerted them Stephen Woodward was now running two more illegal streaming sites - Helix Hosting and Black and White TV.
These websites would give subscribers illegal access to Premier League games and more than 6,500 channels from around the globe.
In July 2020, police once again arrested Stephen Woodward, who told officers "the cash is in the same place as last time" as they searched his address.
This time, officers found some £28,600 in cash, and he was again released under investigation.
Finally, in October 2022 Border Force officers at Gatwick detained Stephen Woodward as he was trying to board a flight to Vancouver and seized £10,870 in cash from his luggage which was then added into the investigation.
All three websites connected with the operation are no longer running.
Confiscation proceedings will now begin against both these funds and jewellery which police seized from Stephen Woodward's address.
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'.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt said: "Illegal streaming weakens the creative industries by diverting money away from legitimate businesses and into the hands of criminals like Stephen Woodward.
"Lost revenue as a result of illegal streaming means fewer jobs and less investment in future opportunities. It's estimated that this criminal activity contributes to over 80,000 job losses each year alone.
'Stephen was brazen in running his illegal steaming websites. Despite being the subject of a criminal investigation, he had clearly not learned his lesson and yet again attempted to gain financially from his illegal activity.
"His sentencing and upcoming confiscation proceedings should send a message that there are significant consequences for criminals who enable illegal access to copyrighted content.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Man illegally streaming Premier League games jailed after making '£100k a month'
Police stormed the home of Stephen Woodward who was part of a service providing illegal access to over 4,500 channels including Sky Sports. A man has been jailed for his role in a £1 million illegal TV streaming operation after police stormed his home. Stephen Woodward sold illegal access to copyrighted material, including Sky Sports and BT Sports, spending the proceeds on holidays, designer clothes, and a £91,000 Jaguar F-Type V8. The 36-year-old used the websites IPTV Hosting, Helix Hosting, and Black and White to provide illegal access to the channels, and would sell subscriptions via card payments, StokeonTrentLive reports. A total of 13 different PayPal accounts owned by Woodward would receive the payment, as well as payment services such as Circle. After receiving the money, he would convert it into Cryptocurrency and then back into regular currency before depositing it in 23 banks accounts. In November 2019, Woodward was arrested and would plead guilty to distributing articles infringing copyright as well as four money laundering offences. He was sentenced to three years and one month in jail. His younger brother Christopher Woodward, 34, received £126,000 as a result of the operation, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 15 months in jail suspended for 12 months as well 240 hours of unpaid work. Police investigating the operation also secured an all-assets restraint order over some £1.1 million held by the elder Woodward brother. Some £144,121 worth of cash was also seized from him in the investigation, and this was frozen. The force searched Stephen Woodward's home upon his arrest, seizing a computer, a hard drive, nine phones, and £4,760 in cash which was found in a desk drawer. Officers also seized around 100 envelopes which each contained a SIM card with a name written on it. These SIM cards had been used by the elder Woodward to open PayPal and bank accounts under false identities which he purchased online. Stephen Woodward was released under investigation as police continued their enquiries. Analysis of his phone revealed he had been communicating with a number of companies in order to help run the website IPTV Hosting. And, in messages to Christopher, Stephen Woodward claimed he was making some £100,00 a month through his illegal streaming. Officers were still investigating IPTV Hosting in 2020 when the Federation Against Copyright Theft, FACT, alerted them Stephen Woodward was now running two more illegal streaming sites - Helix Hosting and Black and White TV. These websites would give subscribers illegal access to Premier League games and more than 6,500 channels from around the globe. In July 2020, police once again arrested Stephen Woodward, who told officers "the cash is in the same place as last time" as they searched his address. This time, officers found some £28,600 in cash, and he was again released under investigation. Finally, in October 2022 Border Force officers at Gatwick detained Stephen Woodward as he was trying to board a flight to Vancouver and seized £10,870 in cash from his luggage which was then added into the investigation. All three websites connected with the operation are no longer running. Confiscation proceedings will now begin against both these funds and jewellery which police seized from Stephen Woodward's address. 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'. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt said: "Illegal streaming weakens the creative industries by diverting money away from legitimate businesses and into the hands of criminals like Stephen Woodward. "Lost revenue as a result of illegal streaming means fewer jobs and less investment in future opportunities. It's estimated that this criminal activity contributes to over 80,000 job losses each year alone. 'Stephen was brazen in running his illegal steaming websites. Despite being the subject of a criminal investigation, he had clearly not learned his lesson and yet again attempted to gain financially from his illegal activity. "His sentencing and upcoming confiscation proceedings should send a message that there are significant consequences for criminals who enable illegal access to copyrighted content.'
Geeky Gadgets
12 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Developer Loses $500,000 While Coding in Cursor : Malicious Cursor IDE Extension Exposed
What if a single click could cost you half a million dollars? For one blockchain developer, this nightmare became a reality when a seemingly harmless coding extension in Cursor IDE turned out to be a cleverly disguised trap. The result? A staggering loss of $500,000 in cryptocurrency. This incident isn't just a cautionary tale—it's a wake-up call for developers everywhere about the hidden dangers lurking in trusted tools. In an era where open source ecosystems thrive on collaboration and innovation, the same openness can be weaponized by malicious actors. The question is: how can you protect yourself when even trusted platforms can be exploited? Java Brains unpacks the shocking details of how a polished, professional-looking extension turned into a developer's worst nightmare. You'll learn how attackers manipulated trust signals like download counts and reviews, exploited vulnerabilities in the Open VSX marketplace, and bypassed common security measures. More importantly, we'll explore practical steps to safeguard your work and assets, from scrutinizing extensions to isolating sensitive tasks. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this story holds critical lessons about the balance between convenience and security in today's development environments. After all, in a world where a single misstep can cost you everything, vigilance isn't optional—it's essential. Malicious Extension Costs Developer What Happened? The developer, while working in Cursor IDE, installed an extension that appeared to offer Solidity language support. However, this seemingly legitimate extension concealed malicious code. Once installed, it executed a hidden PowerShell script that granted attackers remote access to the developer's machine. This unauthorized access enabled the attackers to steal cryptocurrency wallets and other sensitive information stored on the system. The extension appeared trustworthy due to its professional description and artificially inflated download counts, which gave the impression of widespread use and reliability. This deceptive presentation masked its true intent, leaving the developer unaware of the threat until the damage was already done. How Attackers Exploited the System The attackers used weaknesses in the Open VSX marketplace, a platform used by Cursor IDE and other VS Code forks for extensions. Their strategy involved exploiting trust mechanisms and marketplace vulnerabilities to distribute their malicious extension effectively. Here's how they executed the attack: Manipulated Rankings: The attackers exploited the marketplace's ranking algorithm to ensure their extension appeared prominently in search results, increasing its visibility to potential victims. The attackers exploited the marketplace's ranking algorithm to ensure their extension appeared prominently in search results, increasing its visibility to potential victims. Deceptive Presentation: They crafted a polished description and artificially inflated download numbers to create a false sense of credibility and trustworthiness. They crafted a polished description and artificially inflated download numbers to create a false sense of credibility and trustworthiness. Exploited Open Marketplace Weaknesses: The Open VSX marketplace lacks the stringent security measures found in Microsoft's proprietary Visual Studio Marketplace, making it easier for malicious actors to distribute harmful extensions without detection. These tactics allowed the attackers to bypass common trust indicators, such as download counts and ratings, which developers often rely on when selecting extensions. How a Malicious Cursor IDE Extension Stole $500,000 in Crypto Watch this video on YouTube. Uncover more insights about AI coding in previous articles we have written. Why Extensions Pose a Security Risk Extensions in integrated development environments (IDEs) like VS Code and its forks are designed to enhance functionality, often requiring significant system-level access. While this access is necessary for their operation, it also increases the potential for misuse. Developers typically assess extensions based on several factors, but these metrics can be misleading: Download Counts: High download numbers are often interpreted as a sign of popularity and reliability, but they can be artificially inflated. High download numbers are often interpreted as a sign of popularity and reliability, but they can be artificially inflated. Ratings and Reviews: Positive feedback can create a false sense of security, especially if reviews are fabricated or manipulated. Positive feedback can create a false sense of security, especially if reviews are fabricated or manipulated. Open source Transparency: While open source extensions are generally considered safer due to their transparency, they can still be compromised during the build or distribution process. This incident demonstrates how attackers can exploit these trust mechanisms, making it increasingly difficult for developers to distinguish between safe and malicious tools. How You Can Protect Yourself To safeguard against malicious extensions and reduce the risk of similar incidents, developers should adopt the following best practices: Verify Extensions: Whenever possible, test extensions in the official VS Code marketplace before using them in forks like Cursor IDE. Whenever possible, test extensions in the official VS Code marketplace before using them in forks like Cursor IDE. Scrutinize Publishers: Investigate the publisher's profile, history, and reputation to ensure they are legitimate and trustworthy. Investigate the publisher's profile, history, and reputation to ensure they are legitimate and trustworthy. Delay Adoption: Avoid installing newly published extensions until they have been thoroughly vetted by the developer community. Avoid installing newly published extensions until they have been thoroughly vetted by the developer community. Compartmentalize Work: Use isolated setups for sensitive tasks, and separate personal and professional environments to minimize exposure. Use isolated setups for sensitive tasks, and separate personal and professional environments to minimize exposure. Be Cautious: Refrain from installing extensions that seem suspicious, lack transparency, or fail to function as advertised. Refrain from installing extensions that seem suspicious, lack transparency, or fail to function as advertised. Understand Risks: Tailor your security practices to the sensitivity of the data or assets you handle, making sure that high-value resources are given extra protection. By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce your vulnerability to malicious extensions and other security threats. Broader Lessons for the Development Community This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger security measures within open source extension marketplaces. While the open source model encourages innovation and collaboration, it also introduces risks that require proactive management. Developers must carefully weigh the convenience and functionality of extensions against the potential security threats they pose. The broader development community, including marketplace operators, must also take responsibility for improving security. Key actions that could enhance safety include: Enhanced Verification Processes: Implementing stricter vetting procedures for extensions to identify and remove malicious content before it reaches users. Implementing stricter vetting procedures for extensions to identify and remove malicious content before it reaches users. Improved Ranking Algorithms: Refining algorithms to prevent manipulation and ensure that trustworthy extensions are prioritized in search results. Refining algorithms to prevent manipulation and ensure that trustworthy extensions are prioritized in search results. Stronger Security Protocols: Introducing additional layers of security, such as automated code analysis and manual reviews, to detect and block harmful extensions. These steps are essential to reducing the risk of malicious extensions infiltrating open source ecosystems and compromising user security. Lessons for Developers The loss of $500,000 by a blockchain developer serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by malicious extensions. As attackers continue to refine their methods, vigilance and informed decision-making are your best defenses. By adopting proactive security practices, scrutinizing third-party tools, and staying informed about potential threats, you can better protect your assets and data from similar risks. Media Credit: Java Brains Filed Under: AI, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
British streaming pirate who made £1million from illegal video sites and blew it on holidays and a £91k Jaguar sports car is jailed for three years
A British man who made £1million from illegal streaming sites before splurging it on extravagant holidays and a flashy £91,000 Jaguar coupe has been jailed for three years. Stephen Woodward, 36, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had been distributing copyrighted content through websites such as IPTV Hosting, Helix Hosting and Black and White TV. IPTV Hosting provided illegal access to more than 4,500 channels including Sky Sports and TNT Sports to end users and resellers for a fee, which Stephen racked up before indulging on designer clothes and jetting across the world. He also spent his down time driving around in a Jaguar F-Type V8, which is worth £91,000 and boasts a top speed of around 186mph. However, a major operation into Stephen's activity found subscriptions were paid for via card payments, 13 PayPal accounts owned by him and peer-to-peer payment services such as Circle. It was then discovered that the 36-year-old would exchange the money into cryptocurrency, convert it back to flat currency before depositing it across 23 bank accounts. This investigation led to police arresting Stephen and his brother Christopher Woodward, 34, who also received £126,000 from the sales of the illegal streaming sites. Following an investigation by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, the brothers were sentenced at York Crown Court on July 11. Stephen was sentenced to three years and one month in prison after he pleaded guilty at the same court on February 21, 2025, to distributing articles infringing copyright and four money laundering offences. Christopher, also of Thirsk, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and must also complete 240 hours of unpaid work. He pleaded guilty at the same court on the same date to money laundering. Investigators additionally secured an all-assets restraint order against a total of £1.1 million held by Stephen. A further £144,121 worth of cash seized from Stephen during the investigation was also frozen. These funds, in addition to jewellery seized by officers from Stephen's address, will now be subject to confiscation proceedings. Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt, of City of London Police, said: 'Illegal streaming weakens the creative industries by diverting money away from legitimate businesses and into the hands of criminals like Stephen Woodward. 'Lost revenue as a result of illegal streaming means fewer jobs and less investment in future opportunities. It's estimated that this criminal activity contributes to over 80,000 job losses each year alone. 'Stephen was brazen in running his illegal steaming websites. Despite being the subject of a criminal investigation, he had clearly not learned his lesson and yet again attempted to gain financially from his illegal activity. 'His sentencing and upcoming confiscation proceedings should send a message that there are significant consequences for criminals who enable illegal access to copyrighted content.' Stephen was arrested in November 2019. During a search of his home officers seized a computer, a hard drive and nine phones, as well as £4,760 in cash found in a desk drawer in his living room. Around 100 envelopes, each containing a SIM card with a name written on it, were also seized. Stephen used the SIM cards to help open PayPal and bank accounts using false identities he had bought online. He was released under investigation while enquiries continued, before PIPCU analysis of his phone uncovered evidence to show that he had been in communication with various companies to assist with the running of IPTV Hosting. In his messages to Christopher, Stephen said that he was making £100,000 a month through illegal streaming. In 2020, while the investigation into IPTV Hosting was underway, officers were alerted by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) that Stephen had started running two further illegal streaming websites, Black and White TV and Helix Hosting. The websites provided illegal access to watch Premier League matches, as well as over 6,500 channels from around the world. Officers from PIPCU arrested Stephen for the second time and searched his home address in July 2020. He told officers that 'the cash is in the same place as last time', referring to the desk drawer in his living room, from which around £28,600 in cash was seized, before he was again released under investigation. In October 2022, Stephen was detained by Border Force officers at Gatwick whilst attempting to board a flight to Vancouver. Three bundles of cash, worth a total of £10,870, were seized from his luggage. The cash seized by BTP and Border Force officers was incorporated into PIPCU's investigation. The three websites run by Stephen are no longer in operation.
