Police hope the latest crackdown on those broadcasting using dodgy Fire TV Sticks will send a “strong message” to those breaking copyright law by watching Sky TV without paying – warning individuals that “we’re coming back”.
Created and distributed by Amazon, Fire TV Sticks are an incredibly popular and affordable way to bring games and streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and ITVX. none TV with HDMI port. The lightweight hardware supports the chatty AI assistant Alexa, which can control smart lighting, internet-connected thermostats, Ring doorbells and other smart home devices.
However, this cheap streaming hardware is often used by criminals to offer a painless way to watch copyrighted material at a fraction of the cost.
Modified Fire TV Sticks, sometimes referred to as ‘full loaded’, can be used to unlock access to Premier League live streams, the latest Hollywood blockbusters and exclusive series from HBO, Netflix and Disney+ to name a few.
A 42-year-old man from Nottingham has been arrested for using a device to distribute free TV shows, films and sport exclusive to Sky TV packages via illegal streams.
Modified Fire TV Sticks are designed to allow seamless access to copyrighted material for free
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The individual was arrested under various offences, including the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Computer Misuse Act and the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act. He has since been released on bail while the investigation continues.
Detective Sergeant David Beach, who works in Nottinghamshire Police’s Cyber ​​Crime Unit, said: “This action sends a strong message that we are targeting those who knowingly commit or enable copyright infringement online.”
“Not only is this particular operation causing huge losses to the entertainment industry, but it’s also unfair that millions of people work hard to afford their subscription-only TV services while others cheat the system,” he added. “Some may think that paying for illegal streaming devices and services is a victimless crime, but it’s not.”
Sky’s director of anti-piracy Matt Hibbert said of the latest police crackdown: “We would like to thank Nottinghamshire Police’s cyber crime team for taking this strong action against illegal streamers. We will continue to support law enforcement, protect our content, address illegal streaming and help protect consumers from the risks that illegal streaming can pose.”
It follows a flurry of activity by law enforcement agencies aimed at cracking down on illegal streaming in the UK.
A 52-year-old man has been arrested in Stockton-on-Tees on suspicion of being involved in a completely separate illegal streaming operation which was first uncovered by the North East Regional Organized Crime Unit. This was confirmed by Merseyside Police’s Cyber ​​Crime Unit earlier this month A 41-year-old man from Liverpool has been given a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of promoting and selling modified Fire TV Sticks which offered access to pay movies, TV shows and live Premier League matches.
In March, FACT worked with the police’s Intellectual Property Office and the Premier League targeting 11 individuals across the UKwho were selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches, through modified or so-called “full-loaded” Smart TVs or Fire TV Sticks.
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Illegal streams can be viewed online in a web browser, through a modified device such as a “dumb” or “fully loaded” Fire TV Stick, or through third-party add-on software for platforms such as Kodi.
The umbrella term for all these devices and methods is IPTV or Internet Protocol Television, which describes how content is delivered over a broadband connection. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean anything illegal, Sky Stream is an IPTV device that offers legal access to Sky Sports, Sky Atlantic, Netflix and more.
With the advent of easy-to-use streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify, piracy rates have declined. But with the increasing number of services needed to watch the most popular shows and ever-increasing subscription prices, the cost of living crisis has led many individuals to look for cheaper ways to access content.
This has turned out to be a goldmine for those willing to sell so-called “junk” Fire TV sticks – devices loaded with premium shows, movies and football streams. Sometimes these devices come with a monthly subscription fee, although it is usually less than the subscription fee the best Sky Stream deals can offer.
Sky TV has exclusive deals with a range of hit US shows from HBO, including House of the Dragon, White Lotus, Sequence, Euphoria, Mare of Easttown, The Wire, and Game of Thrones. It also commissions a large number of its own shows, such as the award-winning comedy brassicas, I hate Suzieand Chernobyl.
It also has the rights to hundreds of Premier League and English Football League matches, which will be broadcast as part of it rebooted Sky Sports+ service in the coming months. Sky Cinema offers early access to Hollywood movies every month as well as Vue cinema tickets.
Law enforcement has previously warned those tracking or distributing fully charged Fire TV Sticks in the UK “expect a knock on the door”. Earlier this year, GB News revealed that Chat-GPT can offer advice to those searching use your Fire TV Stick to watch Sky TV content for free.
A recent study found that 90% of 50 illegal streaming sites analyzed were classified as risky.
“Illegal streaming is far from a victimless crime and, as well as the impact it has on businesses and content creators, it essentially means that legitimate subscribers pay for those who access such services illegally,” warned Detective Inspector Steve Frame.
“Illegal streams also increase the risk of users receiving malware, which can put them at increased risk of becoming victims of computer misuse law offences. We will use all available powers and continue to work with FACT to identify anyone else who is involved in this form.” criminal activities and bring them before the courts”.