UK authorities set to crackdown on piracy. Illegal sports streamers in the region will now be visited by authorities in the ongoing major piracy crackdown. The authorities also seek to warn users about the various risks that are linked to piracy.
UK Authorities Set To Crackdown on Piracy
Close to 1,000 sports fans in the UK that are engaged in illegal sports streaming may well be visited by the authorities over the next couple of weeks amid a major crackdown on piracy in the region.
As part of Operation Raider, West Mercia Police reportedly seized the database of an illegal streaming platform which allowed officers to trace back the names of the subscribers that are benefiting from the illegal practice. The streaming platform that is based in the UK was responsible for supplying both sports and entertainment content through modified boxes, firesticks, and subscriptions.
FACT Joins Forces with the Police in Educating Users about Piracy
FACT, which is an anti-piracy organization came together with police forces in the UK not just to remind users that illegal streaming is a crime but to also warn them of the various online risks that are associated with it such as ransomware, malware, and many other cyberattacks.
All of this shows just how the fight against piracy has recently taken a turn with ISPs, DNS services, and even the best VPN providers have been frequently dragged to court on the grounds of copyright infringements.
When it comes to the matter of illegal streaming, it is very easy to overlook the possible criminal charges. And that is especially true for users who simply are seeking to watch a movie or football match for free on their devices. But as FACT has pointed out, it is very important for people to understand that there is a real risk of criminal prosecution.
“In 2021, two individuals, Paul Faulkner and Stephen Millington were sentenced to a total of 16 months in prison for watching unauthorized streams,” the company in a blog post noted.
Legal Charges Are Just a Flip Side of the Coin with Illegal Streaming
What is worse here is that legal charges are just the flip side of the coin with illegal streaming.
“Accessing films, TV series, and live sports events from unauthorized sources is illegal, can expose consumers to risks such as data theft and malware, and can help fund organized criminal groups,” Detective Chief Inspector for the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU), Gary Robinson explained.
An investigation recently carried out into 50 illicit streaming websites found that all of the platforms that were analyzed were showcasing malicious content, TACT reported.
And from viruses and adware to Trojans and spyware, this very malware in question can easily infect the devices of users without the need to even click on dangerous content. And getting access to these kinds of platforms is well enough to be at risk of attack.
Almost Half of UK Illicit Streamers Have Fallen Victims to Cyberattacks
Users however confirmed such predictions, with almost half of UK illicit streamers reporting to have known someone or themselves fell victim to phishing scams, identity theft, financial fraud, or even data loss as a result of piracy-related activities.
What the National Coordinator at the Government Agency Intelligence Network Has To Say About the Development
“By working in partnership, sharing intelligence lawfully and efficiently, the network aims to ensure that government agencies and law enforcement will help reduce the risk, threat, and harm from serious and organized crime,” the national coordinator at the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN), Jason Grove noted.
