Fans who use 'dodgy boxes' to illegally stream sport issued Wi-Fi warning that could have major consequences

Fans who use "dodgy" boxes and Fire Sticks for streaming sports have received a major warning which could have huge consequences.

With fans being priced out of watching football on multiple channels, many have turned to IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services.

IPTV is often loaded onto jailbroken Amazon Fire Sticks or boxes, with users paying a monthly or yearly subscription fee to go access to live sports from around the world, as well as TV shows and movies.

While it breaches copyright laws, a 2023 poll from YouGov found that one in 10 people from Great Britain admitted to streaming content illegally.

Authorities are making a huge effort to clamp down on the use of IPTV, with prison sentences being handed out to those responsible for providing the unauthorised services.

Yet there are risks for those utilising them, with Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, claiming that the cyber hackers find it easier to access jailbroken devices.

This commonly happens through WiFi and can therefore give passage to other devices, with passwords, financial data and personal information under threat of being hacked.

"As well as harvesting users’ personal data this software, once enabled, means the box can also connect with a wider network of bots and be used by cybercriminals to gain revenue by mining cryptocurrency or clicking on ads," Briedis told The Sun.

"Devices such as computers and phones will always be more coveted by cybercriminals looking to steal your personal data, as they contain the most amount of information about the user.

"They contain access to your mobile and internet banking, identification details, contacts, email and messaging history, even notes apps that may contain passwords and hastily scrawled pin numbers.

"The trouble is that most people are now aware of the dangers of criminals accessing our mobile phones and PCs and have layers of security to minimise the risks of being hacked.

"Something like your TV, your Wi-Fi or your smart home devices are much less likely to have any protections and can be an easy entry point for cyber crooks."

Image: Getty

In the UK, Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) have been working alongside police forces and key broadcasters.

But over in Italy, Serie A chief Luigi De Siervo has said automatic fines of €5000 (£4,200) will be handed out, telling a YouTube broadcast that "every illegal use of video content leaves an indelible digital Ariadne’s thread that will allow law enforcement to prosecute pirates".

It comes after the country brought in a a Piracy Shield system in a bid to block IP addresses and websites.