A study has found that millions consumers using illegal streaming services across Asia-Pacific could be exposing themselves to significant cybersecurity, privacy and financial risks.
This include pirate streaming apps, IPTV subscriptions, illicit streaming devices and account-sharing services.
While the common perception that piracy is a harmless or low-risk way to stream content, the study found that consumers are constantly exposing themselves to scams, malware, phishing attacks, identity theft and compromise, often with little or no recourse when things go wrong.
The report, titled Consumer Harms and Fraud Pathways in Asia-Pacific’s Illicit Streaming Economy, was released by the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), an initiative of the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA). The findings were unveiled during CAP’s annual State of Piracy Roundtable held alongside the APOS Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Nearly half of tested piracy apps contained malware
One of the most concerning findings from the study is that nearly half of the illicit streaming applications tested were found to contain malware.
According to the report, these malicious apps are capable of harvesting personal data, compromising devices and even recruiting users into cybercrime botnets.
In addition, consumers who purchase piracy services through social media, instant messaging apps and online market places face significant risk of advance-payment scams and fraud.
It added that many illicit streaming services also expose users to phishing attacks, credential theft and identity fraud. It also found that consumers who purchase or share streaming account credentials risk account takeover, financial loss and exposure to stolen or compromised accounts.
On top of that, they found that pirate streaming websites often redirect users to malicious advertising, malware downloads and fraudulent websites.
Cybersecurity researcher Professor Paul Watters highlighted that piracy services have evolved far beyond simple copyright infringement.
He said, “Many consumers believe they are simply finding a cheaper way to watch television, movies and sports content. In reality, they are often stepping into an ecosystem that exposes them to malware, identity theft, fraud and broader cybercrime. The risks are substantial and, in many cases, invisible to users until after the damage has been done.”
Piracy is increasingly becoming a cybersecurity issue
The Coalition Against Piracy said digital piracy should now be seen as a consumer protection and cybersecurity issue, not simply an intellectual property issue.
CAP General Manager Matthew Cheetham said “For years, piracy has been framed primarily as a content theft problem. This research shows that it is increasingly a
consumer harm problem. The same criminal networks facilitating piracy are often creating opportunities for fraud, phishing, malware distribution and identity theft.”
“The message to consumers is straightforward: if a streaming service looks too good to be true, it probably is. The financial savings offered by piracy services can come at a far greater cost in terms of privacy, security and personal risk,” he added.
The report also outlined steps that can be taken by eCommerce platforms, payment processors, social media platforms, banks, messaging services and infrastructure providers to reduce consumer harm and disrupt piracy ecosystems.
CAP calls for greater consumer awareness, stronger enforcement against piracy merchants, enhanced platform moderation and closer collaboration between industry, governments and cybersecurity stakeholders to address the growing convergence between piracy and cybercrime.
The full industry report can be found on AVIA website and it is accessible by AVIA members only.
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