Tech experts issue major IPTV warning to those illegally streaming Fury vs Usyk fight
The moment the sporting world has been waiting for is finally on the horizon, with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk finally set to square off in boxing's first undisputed heavyweight fight for almost a quarter of a century.
But with that comes a huge anticipation by millions across the world to watch the fight and a significant minority of that audience will be looking to do so through illegal means; something tech experts have warned you should avoid at all costs due to the associated risks.
Speaking to LADbible, a number of experts with tech, police and law backgrounds told us why using the likes of Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is a major red flag when it comes to watching the big fight.
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The Saudi Arabia bout takes place Saturday (18 May) and will be live on DAZN PPV, costing Brits £24.99 for the privilege of tuning in. Over in the United States, it'll cost a whopping $69.99 (roughly £55.60).
Tempers are already flaring, with Tyson's dad John Fury left bleeding after a scuffle in the week before the bout.
Despite the intense build up, some aren't prepared to pay the PPV fee, with analytical website Google Trends reporting a spike in people looking to watch the fight via a free stream.
According to the experts we spoke to, the can of worms being opened could cause long lasting impacts on your personal life. Whether that be a criminal record, prison, identity theft, or losing your job, the risks you open yourself up to can be life changing, they say.
"Leaves you open to the risk of financial or identity fraud"
Calum Baird is a British detective in specialist technical law enforcement, who recently spent three years investigating complex cybercrime for Police Scotland, including IPTV thefts at the distribution level.
"Free online streamers are not providing the service out of charity, but for their own gain," Baird warned. "This could potentially be in the form of advertisements, many of which may be age inappropriate - consider sexually explicit advertisements which may be inappropriate for young viewers - as they are unregulated.
"Streaming platforms may ask for your personal data to register, possibly even requiring a fee to access the platform/service. Inputting your personal details - even without payment details - leaves you open to the risk of financial or identity fraud, or even making you the target of further attempts - spear-phishing emails and calls with pretexting.
"Remember technology is traceable and illegal streamers will have a link back to you, whether it's through your input personal details or the internet protocol address you accessed the service through."
"It infringes on copyright laws"
Jon Morgan, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Venture Smarter, said there is so little focus on the long term future of what harm you could be causing by illegally streaming for what is essentially, a very temporary gain.
Morgan said: "It’s important to understand that illegal streaming is just that - illegal. It infringes on copyright laws and can result in severe penalties for both the streamers and the viewers. These penalties can range from hefty fines to imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction and the severity of the infringement.
"In some countries, copyright infringement can lead to legal actions that could potentially ruin one’s personal and professional reputation. It’s not just about the immediate financial cost, but also the long-term implications that come with having a criminal record.
"Illegal streaming sites are also often riddled with malware and other security threats. By accessing these sites, viewers expose themselves to potential cybercrimes, including identity theft and financial fraud. These sites may seem to offer a ‘free’ service, but the cost can be far greater than the £25 fee to watch the fight legally.
"The risk of having your personal information stolen and misused, or your device infected with harmful software, is a high price to pay for a few hours of entertainment."
"A firing offence"
And don't even think about doing this on a device owned by your employer. That's according to Seattle-based cyber security and tech consultant, Michael Hasse, who says you're not just risking your data being breached, but your employer's too. And you should expect to lose your job if the powers at be catch on.
Hasse explained: "I work with a number of small and medium sized businesses and their IT support and it is normal for there to be a sharp spike in the number of malware detections from 'viewers' being downloaded onto corporate systems around the time of high-profile sports events.
"So, yes, from a corporate perspective this is significant concern, and in some cases is a firing offence. For home users with less robust security systems in place - and who may also do their banking on the same computer - there is a much greater risk of infection and subsequent technical and financial damage.
"The best option is to either pay for it from a licensed provider, or simply wait - the outcome will be the same whether you see it now or later."
"You may have committed a criminal offence"
Qarrar Somji, Director and Solicitor-Advocate at Witan Solicitors, spoke about the legal risks you face for getting involved in illegal streaming - even if you're not making money off of sharing illicit IPTV links.
"If you download files and then copy or share them to make money, you may have committed a criminal offence," Somji said. "The punishment depends on how serious it is, but it could mean a fine of £5,000 or three months in jail. In some cases, you could face an unlimited fine or up to ten years in jail."
This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.
Brits can watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk live on DAZN PPV or on TNT Sports.
Topics: Boxing, Crime, Sport, TV, TV and Film, Technology, Tyson Fury, Money
Tom Earnshaw