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A new episode from The Athletic FC podcast is raising alarms about the real-world dangers linked to illegal sports streaming. Titled The Underground World of Illegal Streaming, the report features commentary from law enforcement officials, cybersecurity specialists, and the Motion Picture Association (MPA).
The biggest takeaway from the episode is that modified Firesticks and IPTV Services are at the center of illegal streaming/piracy and should be a concern for malware, privacy theft, and much more.
The podcast cites UK research claiming 5 million users have experienced data theft, financial fraud, or malware infected devices in the last year. And that is just in the United Kingdom alone! That is a staggering number and one that we find difficult to believe which we dive into more below.
If you are interested listenening to “The Underground World of Illegal Streaming”, you can find the Spotify link here:
Amazon Firesticks are heavily mentioned throughout the report. While the device is completely legal, its popularity has risen due to it’s open source Android-based OS that allows users to sideload 3rd party applications.
Even though Firesticks are the main focus point, other devices like Android TV/Google TV offer the same abilities and are mentioned in the podcast as well.
While most install third party applications on their own, various resellers can also be found offering fully-loaded devices online, often through Facebook or eBay.
Many of these come pre-configured with an IPTV Provider that lets them stream games/matches that are geo-blocked or have blackout restrictions without paying hundreds or more per month.
One person in the podcast made the following remark:
No one my age is paying 80 plus to watch football. I think the fragmentation makes people stream illegally way more. I’d rather pay $10 a month for an IPTV service just to catch all the games.
This is a growing trend as we continue to see rising costs for subscription services, disputes between TV broadcasters and providers, and constant blackouts/restrictions for those who just want to watch their favorite team.
All of this leads to millions of people finding alternative methods like IPTV providers, free streaming websites, and live applications that serve up sports games and more without the hefty price tag.
The podcast points out however, that those who do use these “unverified outlets” should be concerned since millions of people have apparently been compromised in some form or fashion in the last year.
That number — 5 million — is based on a recent campaign from UK charity Crimestoppers, which is now working closely with anti-piracy groups. They claim 1 in 5 illegal streamers surveyed had a negative consequence like identity theft or fraud due to their activity.
Still, no specific victim stories were presented in the podcast, and we personally have yet to hear of any first person instances of such issues with 3rd party applications or illegal streaming websites.
Larissa Knapp, who recently transitioned from the FBI to Executive VP of the Motion Picture Association, offered blunt warnings during the podcast.
You’re installing criminal software onto your most trusted devices. It’s the digital version of handing your house keys to a stranger.
She also emphasized that apps used for piracy are often written by criminal groups, not hobbyist developers. That’s a shift from past years where piracy tools were made by community coders and shared on forums. Now, it’s big money — and that means professionalized cybercrime.
The story dives into the takedown of Streameast where the MPA and ACE played a major role in dismantling the operation.
However, as we have covered, there are still tons of Streameast domains readily available on the internet that provide links to live streaming matches for soccer and more. When one gets shutdown, a dozen more pop right back up.
The podcast also touched on VPNs — a topic that’s essential for anyone using streaming apps outside of official app stores. One major point: free VPNs are not safe.
Cybersecurity experts on the show explained that many free VPN services:
Some have even been caught installing trackers or malware.
TROYPOINT has always preached the importance of using a trusted VPN Service and staying far away from Free VPN Providers as you will likely pay for it in another form or fashion.
In short, you’re trading your privacy for a free connection, and that trade almost never works in your favor.
Following pressure from rights holders and law enforcement, Amazon has begun blocking certain third-party apps on Firesticks that are known for distributing pirated content or acting as malware.
During the podcast, sources revealed that Amazon removed or blocked several third-party apps from Firestick devices after being contacted by U.S. law enforcement. However, this could not be verified.
Suggestions from multiple sources said that US law enforcement had made contact with top Amazon bosses because of a national security threat caused by malware emanating from the Asia-Pacific region.
Although Amazon didn’t issue a full public report, they did provide a brief statement:
Safeguarding our customers’ security is of the utmost importance… We regularly monitor for and take action against potentially harmful third-party apps.
This quiet crackdown shows Amazon is taking a more active role in preventing the use of its devices for illegal streaming.
In fact, the newest Fire TV Stick Select runs on Amazon’s own Vega Operating System which has no sideloading abilities whatsoever.
At the end of the Podcast, the host asked for input via their anonymous survey but you must have an Athletic account to do so.
This has not stopped listeners from voicing their opinions, however, as many have commented their thoughts on the Podcast and the state of streaming as a whole.
As you can see, most disagree with the stance The Athletic appears to be taking and the reasons behind the rise in piracy.
These comments continue on with over 80 currently on the Spotify page that blame Sky and other organizations for their own demise.
We highly recommend listening to “The Underground World of Illegal Streaming” wherever you get your podcasts and let us know what you think of it in our own comment section below!
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