Streamers who use illicit websites to watch live and on-demand content are 52 times more likely to have their computers or phones infected with malware and viruses when compared to consumers who pay for legitimate access to shows, movies and sports, according to a new research paper released this week.
The study, commissioned by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), evaluated illegal streaming access in a handful of Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The ACE-backed study evaluated a broad range of piracy channels, including streaming platforms, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services, scam portals, anime-focused sites and manga repositories. According to the report, the average cyber threat exposure on these sites is more than 22 times higher than that of legitimate, licensed content platforms.
Cybersecurity risks were highest among streamers who use peer-to-peer file sharing technology like Bittorrent to illegally download movies and TV shows, according to the study commissioned by ACE.
Those who used illegal IPTV services to watch live sports and linear entertainment channels without a legitimate subscription were 32 times more likely to be infected with malware or a virus, and those who streamed anime through illegal websites were 39 times more likely to suffer from a cybersecurity issue, the paper concluded.
Users in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia have the highest average relative risks, the paper found. A control sample of streamers in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand who used legitimate TV and movie services saw “virtually zero” risk, the researchers said.
“As this study makes clear, the risks and ramifications substantially increase for those in Southeast Asia who visit piracy sites,” Dr. Paul Watters, an Honorary Professor of Security Studies and Criminology at Macquarie University and the paper’s lead author, said in a statement. “Though efforts to curb digital piracy are ongoing, these stark results require additional action, such as smart tools and proven measures, to mitigate the relevant digital threats in each country.”
“The research findings reaffirm the extensive harms piracy networks inflict upon consumers and the economy in Southeast Asia,” Larissa Knapp, a former FBI agent who now serves as the Chief Content Protection Officer for the Motion Picture Association, which operates ACE, said on Tuesday.
Knapp continued: “We applaud Dr. Watters and his team for their work in revealing the dangers of using these illicit sources, and we look forward to further collaboration with law enforcement throughout the region to detect these bad actors, deter future misdeeds, and dismantle unlawful operations that endanger a thriving creative marketplace.”
