Warning issued to anyone using Amazon Fire Sticks for free TV
Criminals have found a way to take advantage of people using Amazon Fire Sticks
Fire TV Stick
(Image: Amazon )
Criminals are exploiting illicit live sports streams, accessed through devices such as Amazon's £25 Fire Stick, to steal credit card information and infect devices with malware. According to a recent report by Enders Analysis, pirated video content serves as a facade for criminal activities, with the firm criticising big tech for its inaction in addressing "industrial scale theft".
The findings indicate that one in eight individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 engage in illicit streaming, labelling the fight against it a "formidable challenge".
The report accuses major tech companies of displaying "a combination of ambivalence and inertia" by neglecting to bolster security measures while inadvertently directing consumers towards illicit services. It identifies three key factors that contribute to the proliferation of piracy.
The first involves the "opportunistic" retransmission of live events via social media platforms. The second entails the use of streaming services to embed malware on viewers' devices.
As stated in 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.", reports the Mirror.
The third factor is the provision of paid pirate TV services through devices like the Fire Stick, which "masquerade as legitimate operators".
It is estimated that approximately 17 million individuals in Europe utilise pirated TV services, with annual losses ranging between £900 million and £21 billion. A single pirated stream of a prominent football match can attract tens of thousands of viewers.
The report labels Amazon's Fire TV Stick as a "piracy enabler". The gadget, designed to connect to a television and provide access to a plethora of legitimate services, is also being exploited for the illegal streaming of major events.
Enders' research indicates that users don't have to delve into the internet's underbelly, as these services are "openly marketed and promoted".
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Amazon has responded by implementing updates to its Fire TV system to make it more challenging to access pirated streams and cautions customers about the dangers of "sideloaded apps".
A spokesperson from Amazon said: "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, Sky Group COO, commented on the gravity of the situation. He said: "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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