Footballing Weekly: Fans using illegal streaming sites are 4 times more likely to encounter cyber threat, online scams
Recent Singapore study commissioned by EPL finds high risk in every 1 in 2 ads on top 25 illegal streaming sites
SINGAPORE — A study commissioned by the English Premier League (EPL) has found that Singapore fans trying to watch the matches via illegal streaming sites are almost four times more likely to encounter a cyber threat and be exposed to online scams.
The study, titled "Scams, Cyber Threats And Illicit Sports Streaming In Singapore", was published on the Social Science Research Network by Professor Paul Watters, chief executive of Cyberstronomy, a Melbourne-based cyber-security assurance firm.
It examined the level of proliferation of illegal sports streaming sites and devices in December last year, and found that among the top 25 illegal sports streaming sites in Singapore, every one in two advertisements on illegal sports streaming websites is likely to be high risk, containing either malware or redirecting to scam websites. Compared with 25 legitimate websites popular with internet users in Singapore, the illegal ones were found to be 3.5 times more likely to have a feature associated with online scams.
Meanwhile, Android TV boxes that offer apps to provide illegal access to a variety of films and TV series have also been found to host malware. Three popular models of such Android TV boxes – the SVI Cloud, Ubox and EVPad - featured 116 illegal streaming apps in total. About 44 per cent of the apps, or 51 of them, were found to contain malware.
The study said that the bigger concern is that these Android TV boxes could form botnets, which are networks of compromised devices that can be controlled by criminals to perform malicious tasks.
EPL blocked around 450 domains in S'pore since 2019
Since the EPL opened its Singapore office in 2019, it has blocked nearly 450 domains across websites, apps and illegal streaming devices here that offer free streams of English football’s top flight.
James Walton, sports business group leader at Deloitte Asia Pacific, told The Straits Times that fans in Singapore might not have considered the potential scam risks of using illegal streams to be a significant issue. The lack of criminal cases involving end users streaming content illegally might have also rendered the consequences an afterthought.
Walton added that the cost of subscription in Singapore might have driven fans to illegal channels. Consumers here have to pay between $25.46 and $40.74 monthly to get EPL content, while Malaysian broadcaster Astro charges RM99.99 (S$28) a month for a comprehensive sports package that includes the EPL, Formula 1 and Ultimate Fighting Championship.
While lowering the fees could change fans’ behaviour, Walton said the tipping point could realistically come only at around half of the current pricing.
Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.
