New Fire Stick warning issued as illegal streaming crackdown comes into force

The dust is settling as another Christmas Day has been and gone, with people settling down into the traditional Boxing Day routine of nibbling at the turkey leftovers, watching sport on the telly and thinking of polite ways to say 'no' when somebody suggests going on a long walk in the cold.

Lots of people will have the next few days to themselves and might reckon it's a decent chance to settle on the sofa and stick on the telly, but depending on what you're watching, you could be getting yourself in trouble.

Yes, we're back talking about those dodgy Fire Sticks again.

By now, you'll know that there's a crackdown on apps that allow people to stream content illegally rather than paying for it. Users are first sent messages that they're accessing something they shouldn't, with the option to uninstall the app.

This is only the first of a two-step approach, where eventually the apps won't work at all, and there's been a new warning since that rollout began.

"Let's all watch TV together and not wonder if that dodgy stick I bought is nicking my bank details" (Getty Images)

BeStreamWise has warned that 38 percent of Brits are thinking about illegally streaming content during the festive season, whether that be to watch Elf without paying for a streaming platform or to see your favourite football team eke out a disappointing 1-1 draw, but most of this bunch haven't thought about the risks.

They warn that nine out of 10 Brits who are doing some illegal streaming on a device like a dodgy Fire Stick don't really know about the risks, which could involve them losing money.

According to their research, two in five illegal streamers have lost some amount of money due to cybercrime, which is linked to piracy, as they don't consider the dangers of having their bank details and personal information stored on devices they're running dodgy software on.

Ethical hacker Rob Shapland warned people that it's really 'not worth it' to take the risk, particularly when the average amount stolen is £1,680, which is enough to buy lots of subscriptions you were trying to avoid.

He said: "Illegal streaming over the festive period could turn Christmas viewing into a costly mistake, particularly this year when more devices than ever are connected in our homes.

The average someone who gets done over while illegally streaming loses is £1,680 (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"It’s just not worth it. Those turning to illegal streaming sites or apps are exposing themselves to phishing attacks, malware, malicious ads and compromised platforms designed specifically to harvest personal and financial data.

"Instead, enjoy the brilliant Christmas TV schedule in a safe – and legal – way."

Owning one of these dodgy devices can land you in trouble with the law too, as investigations into the people selling these things often result in people who've bought them getting 'swept up' in the search.

You don't want to end up with people asking you why you've got a criminal record and telling them it's because you convinced yourself that watching West Ham struggle against Fulham was a good way to spend your time.