Tech experts have sent an IPTV warning to fans planning to illegally stream Tyson Fury’s bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk and Fury go head-to-head on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the winner set to be crowned the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion in the four-belt era and arguably the greatest heavyweight of a generation.
Ahead of the fight, however, several tech and police experts have spoken to LADbiblegroup about the risks associated with illegally streaming the fight via an Internet Protocol television (IPTV).
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Callum Baird, a British detective in in specialist technical law enforcement, who recently spent three years investigating complex cybercrime for Police Scotland, warned: "Free online streamers are not providing the service out of charity, but for their own gain.
"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.
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"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."
CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Venture Smarter Jon Morgan added that illegally streaming only provides a temporary gain and that there are several long-term risks.
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.
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"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."
Meanwhile, Seattle-based cyber security and tech consultant Michael Hasse claimed that both you and your employer’s data could be being breached.
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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."
Topics: Boxing, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk
Chris Byfield