Warning to all Fire TV Stick owners over app ‘stealing their identities’ & ‘serious consequences’ in new crackdown
A WARNING has been issued to all Fire TV Stick owners over an app that is “stealing their identities” and could have “serious consequences” in a new crackdown.
Brits have been cautioned to avoid these Fire Sticks as there is likely malware that is “monitoring” them in “other ways” than they think.
David Ingham, a professional in identifying illegal streaming, told The Telegraph that whilst TV programmes at a reduced price might sound appealing, buying them will come at a price.
He explained there’s a big network of intellectual property behind these cheap offerings and cautioned TV enthusiasts to avoid them.
“The networks that sit behind it are very much like drugs,” he said.
Similar to the drug trade, he said these piracy operations filter down from the organised criminals to the people who buy the products.
In 2023, five men received combined sentences of more than 30 years in prison for running an illegal streaming operation.
They sold a £10-a-month subscription, offering viewers the opportunity to watch Premier League at a tiny cost, which bagged them a staggering £7 million in five years.
These devices, which have become known as “jailbroken” or “loaded” Fire Sticks are teaming with apps that illegally stream global paywalled content.
Their popularity has become an increasing problem in the world of entertainment.
Almost four million people in the UK illegally watched live sport in 2022, according to research conducted by the Intellectual Property Office.
It’s easy to see why more people are turning to these sticks, with subscription fees that would have cost around £1,000 a year costing as little as £30.
According to The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) half of respondents who illegally stream in the UK say they or someone they know have been scammed or experienced data loss.
The company, which has been driving a clampdown on illicit streaming services, has warned illegal Fire Stick users that they could “face serious consequences”.
The firm has implemented sending cease-and-desist warnings to users and threatening to prosecute if they don’t comply.
A spokesperson told the paper that consumers should understand that illegal streaming isn’t a “victimless crime”.
As well as risking their own data being stolen, using piracy tools like these Fire Sticks weakens the creative industries and often funds other serious crimes.
They added: “The outcome serves as both a consequence for those involved in these criminal activities, and as a strong warning to others considering similar action.”
Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET told The Sun: “Although tempting, dodgy Fire Sticks loaded with unauthorised apps can pose unknown risks to those using them and the devices they are plugged in to.
“These devices have been known to be shipped with malware that is designed to steal your personal data or allow hackers to roam around your home network – or even take control of your webcams.”
He also warned that unauthorised apps lack regular updates which can leave users exposed to other vulnerabilities and lacking any given extras.
Jake added: “Dodgy software can sometimes be packed with strange bugs which can cause Fire Sticks to randomly freeze or crash.
“But finally, as streaming pirated content breaches copyright law, there are legal consequences to be mindful of and if caught, can result in a fine.”