£1,700 warning to anyone who owns cheap Amazon Fire TV sticks | UK | News
Brits are being warned about fake Amazon TV sticks allowing fraudsters to commit cybercrime. Two in five illegal streamers have fallen victim to fraud; this was likely due to a “modified” USB stick that exposed users to data theft and other online crimes.
Many households bought cheap versions of Amazon Fire Sticks online ahead of Christmas. However, these products pose a risk for cybercriminals who access bank accounts and steal money.
Brits have been warned that using “modified” Amazon Fire Sticks with your laptop or TV could give criminals access to your bank details and passwords, risk losing thousands of pounds and having your identity swapped online, according to reports. Birmingham Live.
BeStreamWise, a UK startup aiming to tackle the problem, found that two in five people using illegal streaming services have been scammed, losing an average of £1,700 each.
DCI Emma Warbey, of the force’s intellectual property crime unit (PIPCU) at the City of London police, said: “Illegal streaming may seem like a quick way to save money, but… it is a false economy that can cost people thousands of dollars.
“This crime diverts funds away from the entertainment industries that support thousands of technical and support staff. It also exposes end users to the risks of data theft, cybercrime and fraud.”
Rob Shapland, an ethical hacker on Cyonic Cyber shows, educates companies about gaps in their security systems. The expert also warned households.
He said: “By the stream [of TV or sports] It will also install some malware on your computer and give the criminal direct access to your computer. [they] They can use it as if they were sitting there.
“Or they can install keyloggers that will record any password you type. So, when you access online banking, it will record your banking passwords. In many cases, you’re essentially volunteering to have your laptop hacked.”
“It may ask you to sign in with your Google account, then you provide credentials to the app, which is then sent to criminals.
“Most people tend to reuse the same password, so once they have one password they can access hundreds of different things.”
