Illegal streamers are losing far more to cyber criminals than they save on subscription fees, according to new research from BeStreamWise.
The cross-industry awareness initiative surveyed more than 2,000 UK consumers and found that 39% of those who had accessed illegal streams in the past 12 months had suffered direct financial losses after being targeted by criminals. The average loss was £1,680 (€1,966), with 11% of victims losing more than £7,500.
By contrast, illegal streamers estimated their typical saving at just £13.38 (€15.65) a month – around £160 (€187) a year – highlighting what BeStreamWise describes as a “false economy” in using pirate streams, downloads or modified devices.
Rob Shapland, an ethical hacker with 16 years’ cyber security experience, warned that pirate services are routinely used as a delivery mechanism for data theft.
“The primary goal of these criminals is to get access to your credit card details or bank account,” he said. “The moment you plug in a modified device to your TV, or download an illegal streaming app on your phone or tablet, you’ve done all the hard work for them.”
The study also suggests exposure to risk is widespread: 65% of respondents who had watched illegal content in the past year reported a security scare such as malware or malicious pop-ups, while only 27% said they had never experienced an issue.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Warbey of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) said the findings underlined the broader impact of piracy on both consumers and the audio-visual sector.
“Illegal streaming might look like a quick way to save money, but as this research shows, it’s a false economy that can end up costing people thousands,” she said. “This is a crime that diverts funds away from the entertainment industries – money that supports thousands of technical and support staff – while exposing end users to data theft, cyber crime and fraud.
“We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure that this activity is disrupted and those involved are held to account,” she added.
BeStreamWise says it will use the research to reinforce consumer-facing campaigns around the financial and security risks of illegal streaming, in parallel with ongoing enforcement activity against pirate platforms and device sellers.
