Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Football, Premier League
Chris Byfield
An expert has warned Amazon Fire Stick users there are several ways they could be hacked while illegally streaming football.
The Premier League has continued to clamp down on illegal streaming of football matches, with the use of Amazon Fire Sticks proving to be increasingly popular with many fans.
It has become a regular practice to illegally stream matches through jailbroken Fire Sticks that provide Sky Sports, TNT Sports and more for a nominal fee.
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However, a security expert has warned of the danger of using such a device to watch sports.
Chartered security professional James Bore told the Mail Online last month: “Certainly some of the [sites] are using the free content they provide almost as bait to get people to sign up to their own services, which gets them usernames, passwords it may even get card details.
“In theory, if someone did decide to break into them - because they often don't have security updates and the software is not written well - and it's one with voice activation, they could turn it into a listening bug or pull data off it.
“Or they could send a request through for a window to pop up and ask you for your credit card details. Once someone's got control of it, they can do almost anything they want.
“It's worth remembering whenever you sign up to a service like this, you are engaging with people who openly break the law.”
Those using a Fire Stick to illegally stream TV have been warned that they could be prosecuted for breaking copyright laws, though there is predominantly a focus on sellers rather than users.
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A spokesperson for the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT UK) told the Mail Online: “FACT constantly monitors the digital landscape to combat illegal streaming activities in the UK and Ireland. We utilise a range of methods to identify individuals engaged in unauthorised businesses that offer access to illegal streams.
“One of these methods is through our partnership with Crimestoppers to make it as easy as possible to report illegal streaming, and over the past year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of reports directly linked to Fire Sticks and illegal streaming.
“These reports are then investigated by our Intelligence Unit, and followed up with a rolling programme of action which includes issuing 'Cease and Desist' letters and conducting nationwide 'Knock and Talks'.
“These home visits, undertaken in conjunction with law enforcement, serve to inform individuals about their activities and the immediate need to cease and desist or face further action or prosecution.
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“We also work In close collaboration with law enforcement to gather further evidence to actively pursue legal actions against these criminal entities.”