Latest news with #FireSticks
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit fugitive behind £300k illegal football streaming operation is jailed for 5 years as police issue stark warning
A BRIT man who went on the run after being sentenced to five years behind bars for operating an illegal streaming service has finally be caught. And police have issued a stark warning to anyone offering the same services. 2 Service was used to stream Premier League games and more on the cheap Credit: Getty 2 Mark Brockley fled to Spain after being sentenced in May 2023 Credit: City of London Police Mark Brockley, 56, pocketed £300,000 for illegally streaming football games on the cheap, including Premier League, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches. He ran aFINITY IPTV for around five years, between 2014 and 2019, with premium sport, movies and TV for as little as £15 a month. Brockley was arrested and later charged with fraud and copyright offences at Liverpool Crown Court in June 2021. After being released on police bail, he failed to appear at multiple court hearings, and sentencing proceeded in his absence in May 2023. Read more on illegal streaming He fled the country with his dog before being traced to an apartment block in Spain. The Brockley was released pending further investigation having appealed his extradition back to the UK, City of London Police said. But he failed to show up at multiple court hearings in Spain and was eventually identified as wanted by Spanish authorities. Most read in Tech Brockley was finally arrested at Barcelona Airport while attempting to board a flight to the UK on June 20. He was held in custody at Heathrow Airport and will now commence his five-year sentence. Major Illegal Streaming Network Shut Down Across Europe "This case is a clear example of how PIPCU, together with our national and international partners, will relentlessly pursue those seeking to profit from intellectual property crime," said Detective Constable Geoff Holbrook from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit at City of London Police. "Thanks to the joint efforts of the NCA, Europol and Interpol, Brockley has finally been brought to justice, despite his attempts to evade accountability." Warning over 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks Illegal streaming can be delivered by a number of devices by one of the most common are 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks, which means a third-party media server software has been installed on to it. The software most commonly used is called Kodi. It can grant users unrestricted access to new features and apps the normal version of the device wouldn't allow – but it is not legal to use in the UK. But it becomes illegal when a box is used to stream subscription channels for free. It is also illegal to buy or sell these modified devices which have become known as "fully-loaded" - a term that describes how the software has been altered to allow access to subscription-only channels. 'These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free to air, content,' the government said at the time. 'They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Dodgy Facebook crook tried to sell me shady £80 Fire Stick… then threatened to come to my HOUSE
AS I sit and scroll through my phone, I'm being bombarded with shady adverts on Facebook offering dodgy devices with 80,000 premium channels and movies. And it didn't take long for Facebook crooks to reach out to me offering their illicit services - but this time, the criminals are going one terrifying step further. 4 Some illegal streaming devices look just like Sky, as seen here Credit: Facebook 4 You can easily find crooks selling illegal Fire Sticks on Facebook Credit: Facebook In the message, they not only offered "24,000 channels" including Sky Sports as well as movies and series in "HD quality" - they also offered to deliver to my address and install. It might seem like great customer service, but it could put you at risk of "physical harm", experts warned me, with unscrupulous characters turning up at your door. Not only that, Brits in possession of an illegal Fire Stick could receive a £1,000 fine, while those caught selling Firesticks could face jail time. Some Kieron Sharp , chairman at the anti-piracy organisation FACT, told The Sun: "It's alarming that criminals can openly advertise illegal streaming services and turn up at people's homes to install them. "Letting them in puts you at risk — not just physically, but digitally too." Fire Stick maker Amazon has faced criticism for not doing enough to tackle illegal streaming on its devices. The gadget's open tech is meant to give people more freedom to download apps outside Amazon's own app store, but it's also susceptible to abuse by illegal streaming operators. An Amazon spokesperson said: "Piracy is illegal, and customers should not buy these devices." It's become a major problem for broadcasters and sports bodies, estimated to cost them billions every year, and they're increasingly frustrated about the lack of action from tech companies. IPTV Crackdown Matt Hibbert, Group Director Anti-Piracy at Sky, said firms want to see faster action from big tech platforms. "We know they have the technology and the capability, now we need to see action," he told The Sun. 'I will deliver' I was approached by an account on Facebook called "Firestick updating", which randomly added me with an open profile and very clear intentions. "SALE SALE SALE SALE SALE!!!" a post on their page unashamedly reads, alongside a photo of boxes and boxes of Fire Sticks. Another image shows a rip-off of the Sky Glass interface. It continues: "£60 for year subscription. "£80 for loaded stick no shipping charges." Within minutes of accepting their friend request, I received a private message. They bragged: "I've worldwide 24,000 channels with all sports channels 80,000 daily basis updated movies and series in HD quality. 4 One seller assured me the cops can't trace the device 4 The crook also offered to hand-deliver the illegal streaming stick "You'll have everything Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple T,V Disney+, full Sky package all sports channels ppv events all Irish UK USA TV channels, movies and series on demand. When I asked if it was traceable, they responded, "No mate, not at all". What shocked me even more was that the person offered to come to my house and install it there and then. Although I didn't share my address, just my rough location, I felt quite intimidated by the offer. They wrote: "I will deliver it and set it up for you." Curiously, researching the matter on Facebook seemed to make Meta's algorithm think I was interested in illegal streaming, and loads of very obvious ads started to appear. While it may seem like a low-risk, high-reward crime, the proceeds are used to fund other serious forms of criminal activity Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey City of London Police Illegal streaming operations usually have ties to gangs, and the money they get from it funds other serious forms of criminal activity. So the idea of having a stranger who might have dodgy links turning up at my front door was quite scary, and more so considering vulnerable people who might allow them into their homes. Jake Moore, from security firm ESET, said: "Devices sounding too good to be true and sold by someone you don't know coming to your house should be the first alarm bell, but these devices have been known to ship with viruses and other dodgy programs onboard." STRANGER DANGER The risks of illegal streaming to your online life can also be pretty devastating. Fraud is the biggest consequence. We've heard from users who chanced it and had their bank account instantly accessed. A 46-year-old Brit - who has asked to remain anonymous - was Sky Sports . But shortly after entering his bank details a surge of transactions were attempted on his account totalling several thousand pounds. "A couple of friends had already done it and they had no issues," he revealed to The Sun. "It all seemed quite secure, so I didn't even think at the time. "After that, the payment was taken but there were all sorts of transactions on my bank account for quite a large amount of money which were on various times and various dates for different amounts. "It's scary really, they attempted thousands." Meta's website says the company removes "millions of violating posts and accounts every day on Facebook and Instagram", which can range from serious crime like terrorism, to sexual content not allowed on the platforms. " Most of this happens automatically, with technology working behind the scenes to remove violating content – often before anyone sees it ," the company claims. When reaching out to Meta about the influx of illegal streaming ads on my Facebook profile, the examples I showed were quickly taken down. But many more blatantly illegal streaming services have simply replaced them, many featuring Meta's new WhatsApp button so you can chat to sellers immediately. Meta told The Sun that reviewing ads from millions of advertisers globally against its advertising standards is essential, but not without challenges. These devices can expose your Wi-Fi network, steal personal data, spread scams, and infect your devices with malware and viruses. We urge consumers to think twice Kieron Sharp FACT The company emphasised that it doesn't allow fraudulent activity and works closely with law enforcement to support investigations and keep scammers off its platforms. Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police, told us: "Illegal streaming is a significant challenge for the industry and while it may seem like a low-risk, high-reward crime, the proceeds are used to fund other serious forms of criminal activity. At the same time, it can expose consumers to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware. "The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit works with partners across law enforcement and the industry to take action against these criminal operations by utilising our full suite of enforcement options, including pursuing criminal prosecutions and serving 'cease and desist' notices to offenders." While it might seem like a tempting offer, Brits be warned - criminals behind the computer screens are not just looking to infiltrate your digital life but your home life too. WHAT'S AMAZON DOING ABOUT IT? Amazon has previously been criticised by Sky for not doing enough to tackle piracy. The tech giant told The Sun that bad actors are abusing and misusing the developer features that are part of the open-source operating system running on Fire TV devices. Though manufactured by Amazon, these devices are jailbroken which not only violates the company's policies on intellectual property rights, but also compromises the security of customers, it added. A spokesperson said: "Piracy is illegal, and customers should not buy these devices. Individuals and criminal groups have been convicted in connection with the resale of devices preloaded with piracy-enabling apps, and we will continue to work with authorities and industry partners to stop these sales." Image credit: AP
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
More popular Fire TV Stick streaming apps are BLOCKED as Amazon issues serious warning to all users
AMAZON has blocked several popular but dodgy streaming apps from Fire TV Sticks in a fresh crackdown. The tech giant had 1 Two more apps disabled over concerns about people's data being at risk Credit: Getty It now seems that the firm has targeted more potentially dangerous apps. Blink Streamz and Ocean Streamz are the latest to be disabled, according to A message apparently appears on screen warning users that the two apps "can put your device or personal data at risk". Ocean Streamz's website already flashes up as dangerous when trying to access it on Google Chrome. Read more about Fire Sticks People are able to download shady apps because of Amazon's open source tech on Fire TV Sticks, meaning you can download apps from outside the company's own app store as you please. Amazon has faced growing criticism for its response to illegal streaming. Broadcaster Sky has hit out at the US firm, saying it Illegal streaming is estimated to be costing the industry "hundreds of millions of dollars". Most read in Tech Nick Herm, chief operating officer at Sky , recently accused Amazon of failing to do "enough engagement to address some of those problems, where people are buying these devices in bulk". He also believes that modified Fire Sticks "probably" make up "about half of the piracy" in the UK alone. Warning over 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks Illegal streaming can be delivered by a number of devices by one of the most common are 'jailbroken' Fire Sticks, which means a third-party media server software has been installed on to it. The software most commonly used is called Kodi. It can grant users unrestricted access to new features and apps the normal version of the device wouldn't allow – but it is not legal to use in the UK. But it becomes illegal when a box is used to stream subscription channels for free. It is also illegal to buy or sell these modified devices which have become known as "fully-loaded" - a term that describes how the software has been altered to allow access to subscription-only channels. "These devices are legal when used to watch legitimate, free to air, content," the government said at the time. "They become illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content, for example TV programmes, films and subscription sports channels without paying the appropriate subscriptions."
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
More popular Fire TV Stick streaming apps are BLOCKED as Amazon issues serious warning to all users
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMAZON has blocked several popular but dodgy streaming apps from Fire TV Sticks in a fresh crackdown. The tech giant had already blacklisted Flix Vision and Live NetTV, confirming to The Sun this week that the pair "exhibited malicious behaviour". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Two more apps disabled over concerns about people's data being at risk Credit: Getty It now seems that the firm has targeted more potentially dangerous apps. Blink Streamz and Ocean Streamz are the latest to be disabled, according to AFTVNews. A message apparently appears on screen warning users that the two apps "can put your device or personal data at risk". Ocean Streamz's website already flashes up as dangerous when trying to access it on Google Chrome. People are able to download shady apps because of Amazon's open source tech on Fire TV Sticks, meaning you can download apps from outside the company's own app store as you please. Amazon has faced growing criticism for its response to illegal streaming. Broadcaster Sky has hit out at the US firm, saying it does not do enough to tackle piracy. Illegal streaming is estimated to be costing the industry "hundreds of millions of dollars". Nick Herm, chief operating officer at Sky, recently accused Amazon of failing to do "enough engagement to address some of those problems, where people are buying these devices in bulk". He also believes that modified Fire Sticks "probably" make up "about half of the piracy" in the UK alone.
Scottish Sun
23-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Two popular ‘dodgy' apps showing football games for free are BLOCKED on millions of Fire Sticks
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO apps used to watch premium TV and football matches for free on Fire Sticks have been blocked, according to users. The pair of apps provide links to hundreds of channels from across the world, ranging from movies to sports. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 It's not clear why the two apps have been blocked Credit: Alamy They can't be downloaded from Amazon's own app store, instead people side-load them onto their Fire Stick and use a VPN to avoid detection. The two apps in question are Flix Vision and Live NetTV. Users have started complaining on social media that the pair no longer work, suggesting Amazon may have blocked them. It's not clear why at this stage. AFTVNews suggests that the block may have come about due to concerns over alleged malware hiding on the apps. Amazon has been approached by The Sun for comment. The tech giant has been increasingly accused of not doing enough to prevent illegal streaming. Earlier this year, broadcasting firm Sky hit out at Amazon for not doing enough to tackle piracy, saying that the problem is costing the industry "hundreds of millions of dollars". 'If you speak to friends and colleagues, [or] you watch football, people will know that you can get jail-broken Fire Sticks, and you can access pirated services on Fire Sticks,' Nick Herm, chief operating officer at Sky said in March. Herm accused Amazon in particular of not doing "enough engagement to address some of those problems, where people are buying these devices in bulk". He also believes that modified Fire Sticks "probably" make up "about half of the piracy" in the UK. Amazon has previously said that it is "committed to providing customers with a high-quality streaming experience while actively promoting a streaming landscape that respects intellectual property rights and encourages the responsible consumption of content".
