The Premier League is back for the 2024/25 season and with it comes a warning over watching the hotly contested matches via illegal streams and Internet Protocol television (IPTV).
Manchester United will kick off the new season in their match against Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday night (16 August), with millions set to tune in to watch the return of domestic football after a summer of watching the Olympics and Euro 2024.
And while it may seem tempting to watch the United game via a dodgy box or something along those lines, doing so could land you in a lot of trouble.
It comes just days after two brothers were jailed for a total of 11 years for their role in illegal streaming of the Premier League, with Sky's director of Anti-Piracy, Matt Hibbert, saying the prosecution 'highlights the significant consequences for those that get involved in illegally streaming content'.
One growing method of watching sport for those who don't want to via paying for the official subscriptions is through IPTV, often accessed via jailbroken devices such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick.
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Often sold via organised criminals, they bypass the operating system of the device to install IPTV apps that grant you 'free' access to thousands of films, shows, and live content including sport.
But Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT UK) and Sky are now working with regional police forces to target providers of these services across the UK, arresting potential criminals and seizing their lists - and identities - of people who pay heavily discount fees for illegal set ups.
Kieron Sharp, CEO at FACT, said: “Illegal IPTV service providers are breaking the law and putting consumers at real risk of malware, data compromise, and identity theft.
"Consumers who pay for pirate services should also know that they are often funding serious organised crime groups.
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“FACT and Sky remain committed to disrupting these criminal operations and protecting consumers from the many dangers of illegal streaming."
Hibbert said: “We understand the power of working with our partners to tackle the issue of illegal streaming, and we’re grateful to FACT and law enforcement for their support.
“At Sky we are passionate about protecting our content while ensuring consumers can enjoy the content they love, free from risks that illegal streams can pose.
“We’ll continue to support efforts to shut down the organised networks involved in the large-scale theft of our content and to protect consumers from the risks involved in accessing content in this way.”
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FACT has been conducting nationwide 'Knock and Talks' whereby they approach homes of people who are listed as having illegal streaming set ups to let them know they need to stop or potentially face a day in court.
The organisation says that illegal streaming also opens you up to being a victim of crime yourself via malicious software accessing your device.
This includes adware, which can lure users to suspicious websites; spyware, which spies on user activity; ransomware, which can lock devices until a ransom is paid; and trojans, which can grant access to a user’s device.
Maybe just go to the pub instead and support your local, watching the game over a few pints.
Topics: UK News, Premier League, Technology, TV, Sport, Football, Crime
Tom Earnshaw