March 2025 - Crackdown on illegal Sky TV streaming amid war against 'dodgy fire sticks'
A crackdown on illegal ‘dodgy fire sticks' is taking place targeting streaming of Sky Sports and Movies
A nationwide crackdown on illegal "dodgy devices" has taken place in 15 areas across the UK, targeting the illegal streaming of Sky Sports and Movies.
The operation, led by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) in collaboration with police, has shut down multiple piracy operations. Over a two-week period, 30 illegal IPTV suppliers were issued cease-and-desist notices, warning them to halt their activities or face criminal prosecution.
These efforts are part of a broader campaign to combat unauthorised access to premium content such as films, television shows, and live sports.
The targeted areas included major cities and regions across the UK, including London, Cheshire, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Greater Manchester and more. The operation focused on disrupting the sale and use of illicit streaming devices.
FACT’s CEO, Kieron Sharp, emphasised that illegal streaming not only violates copyright law but also exposes users to security risks like malware and data theft.
For more information and to view the full article, please visit the Daily Express
Cease /desist letters and Automatic fines
In recent reports, authorities have warned that using illegal IPTV services will lead to fines of up to £4,200, targeting both individuals and businesses involved in distributing or using such services to access copyrighted content. Police are issuing thousands of cease and desist letters to people suspected of watching illegal live streams which states that anyone consuming pirated content, such as premium TV shows or PPV sporting events, risks a maximum sentence of up to five years imprisonment.
Risks Beyond Legal Trouble
Using these dodgy devices doesn’t just put you on the wrong side of the law but can expose you to serious cyber security threats. Many of these unauthorised, 'side-loaded', streaming apps are riddled with malware, which can steal your personal information, give hackers access to your home network, and even control your devices. It’s been reported that over 2.7 million households had their devices infected with viruses due to illegal streaming https://bestreamwise.com/#risks
Kieron Sharp, Chairman of FACT, commented: “Together with our partners we will continue to identify and take action against Illegal IPTV service providers. They are breaking the law, making criminal profits and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data loss and identity theft.
How can i get caught?
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) maintains logs of IP addresses assigned to their customers at all times. These logs can be accessed by police as part of their investigations. By analysing these logs, authorities can trace the online activities of individuals back to their internet connection.
How do i stay protected
Use a VPN, and ultimately use a VPN Router. A VPN Router will secure and protect all of your devices all of the time without the hassle of installing and maintaining a VPN on each device you have. Many VPN suppliers allow the VPN to be installed on just 5 devices. If you try to exceed this limit one of your devices will disconnect leaving it exposed. A VPN installed on a Router counts as just one device but will protect all the devices you connect to it. Over 250 devices can be connected and protected with a VPN on a Guardian VPN Router!
Never use a free VPN or one based in any of the '5/9/14 Eyes' alliance of countries.
Choose a VPN Supplier that uses 'RAM-only' servers (data is deleted upon reboot), have multiple no-logs policy audits and are based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions outside of the '5/9/14 Eyes' alliance and supports 'Wireguard' to such as ZoogVPN, PureVPN or Surfshark. Wireguard is the latest VPN Protocol and can be up to 10x faster than the more common OpenVPN Protocols hence providing faster IPTV streams and eliminating frozen and buffered streams. Be aware some of the biggest VPN providers do not support Wireguard.
How a VPN Protects you
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is an encrypted tunnel between your internet devices to the target destination i.e your firestick to your IPTV stream. Every time you access the Internet you are exposing your connection to possible data interception; account login's, passwords, emails, Facebook posts, uploads of photos etc.
Your ISP keeps logs of every website your visit and every stream you connect to. Using a VPN secures your data in an encrypted tunnel so no-one can spy on your internet activity, not even your ISP.
Our tips for staying safe online in 2025
Protect Your Devices and Data:
Use a Secure Internet Connection:
Use WiFi networks with strong passwords and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address.
Install and Update Antivirus Software:
This helps protect against viruses, malware, and other threats.
Keep Software Updated:
Regularly update your operating system, browsers, and other software to patch security vulnerabilities.
Avoid free software: Malicious actors often disguise harmful software with free applications. Once installed, these programs can wreak havoc on your device, compromising sensitive data, and even rendering it unusable. Many free software offerings including anti-virus and VPN come with strings attached in the form of invasive data collection practices
Back Up Your Data:
Regularly back up your important files to an external hard drive or cloud storage in case of data loss or a cyber-attack.
Secure Your Accounts:
Use Strong, Unique Passwords:
Don't use easily guessable passwords. At the very least use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols, and make passwords long enough to be difficult to crack. We recommend using a password that is made up of 4 random words. Passwords of four random words is a good way to create unique passwords that are ‘long enough' and ‘strong enough’ to withstand brute-force attack, but can also be remembered much more easily. You can add a mixture of upper, lower and special characters to further strengthen them.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a code from your phone or authenticator app, in addition to your password, when logging in.
Regularly Change Passwords:
Especially for important accounts or if you suspect a password might have been compromised. You can check if your email has been pwned (compromised) here: https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Practice Safe Browsing Habits:
Be Careful What You Download:
Avoid downloading files or software from un-trusted sources, and be wary of suspicious pop-up windows or links.
Don't Open Suspicious Emails or Attachments:
Don't click on links or open attachments from unknown senders, as they may contain malware or phishing attempts.
Check Website Security:
Look for the "https://" protocol (a padlock icon) and a secure connection when entering personal information on websites.
Be Mindful of What You Post:
Think carefully about what information you share online and consider your privacy settings on social media and other websites.
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