It’s no secret that pirate IPTVs are experiencing growing success in France and the rest of the world. To access these services, Internet users often turn to jailbroken boxes or TV sticks. This seemingly innocuous practice actually exposes them to very real risks of piracy. Explanations.
Why are you in danger?
Marijus Briedis, technical director of NordVPN, rightly sounded the alarm during an interview with the British daily The Sun. The latter explains that it is very common for malicious software to be installed on these devices without the users’ knowledge.
Malicious actors then have access to their target’s Wi-Fi network with very concrete consequences:
They gain access to your mobile and internet banking, credentials, contacts, messaging and email history, and even notes apps that may contain passwords and passwords. Hastily scribbled PIN codes.
He adds: “As well as harvesting users’ personal data, this software, once activated, means the box can also connect to a wider network of bots and be used by cybercriminals to earn revenue by mining cryptocurrencies or clicking on advertisements ».
Access to bank accounts
As a reminder, this is not the first time that the risks posed by illegal IPTV have been singled out. Last January, for example, we shared this call from Jenny Radcliffe, a repentant hacker, who warned:
Whether it’s multiple credit card charges, installing malware on devices, accessing bank accounts, or stealing personal information, such as emails, messages, contacts, photographs, documents and browsing history, illegal streaming makes you a prime target for professional fraudsters.
You can always reread our dedicated article to find out more here. These risks, now well identified, are far from dampening the enthusiasm of Internet users. To cite just one example, according to a recent survey carried out by Odoxa, 5% of French people, or around 2.5 million of our fellow citizens, use illegal means to view meetings (IPTV or illegal streaming).
Far from being criticized, this practice is even widely accepted socially, since 6 out of 10 French people say they understand this behavior. Were you aware of the risks posed by these illegal services? Tell us in the comments.
