Yahoo News Illegally streaming Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk could leave you with 'criminal record'
Fans planning to illegally stream the Tyson Fury vs Oleksander Usyk fight have been issued a stern warning about a "crackdown". Tech experts have sounded the alarm for those intending to unlawfully broadcast the clash between Fury and Usyk in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
British detective Callum Baird, who specialises in technical law enforcement and has spent three years probing complex cybercrime for Police Scotland, cautioned: "Free online streamers are not providing the service out of charity, but for their own gain. This could potentially be in the form of advertisements, many of which may be age inappropriate - consider sexually explicit advertisements which may be inappropriate for young viewers - as they are unregulated."
The two undefeated world champions will go head-to-head for the historic undisputed heavyweight title in Riyadh, with all four belts up for grabs. The majority of the 2,500 British fans expected at the event on Saturday arrived in the Saudi capital in the morning and headed straight to the weigh-in.
Baird continued: "Streaming platforms may ask for your personal data to register, possibly even requiring a fee to access the platform/service. Inputting your personal details - even without payment details - leaves you open to the risk of financial or identity fraud, or even making you the target of further attempts - spear-phishing emails and calls with pretexting."
"Remember technology is traceable and illegal streamers will have a link back to you, whether it's through your input personal details or the internet protocol address you accessed the service through."
Venture Smarter's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Jon Morgan chimed in: "It's important to understand that illegal streaming is just that - illegal. It infringes on copyright laws and can result in severe penalties for both the streamers and the viewers. These penalties can range from hefty fines to imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction and the severity of the infringement."
"In some countries, copyright infringement can lead to legal actions that could potentially ruin one's personal and professional reputation. It's not just about the immediate financial cost, but also the long-term implications that come with having a criminal record. Illegal streaming sites are also often riddled with malware and other security threats. By accessing these sites, viewers expose themselves to potential cybercrimes, including identity theft and financial fraud. These sites may seem to offer a 'free' service, but the cost can be far greater than the £25 fee to watch the fight legally."
"The risk of having your personal information stolen and misused, or your device infected with harmful software, is a high price to pay for a few hours of entertainment."
