Amazon's Fire Stick Crackdown Leaves Illegal Streamers Scrambling for Alternatives

In a major crackdown, Amazon has banned the use of modified "dodgy" Fire Sticks that have been exploited by cybercriminals to access illegal streaming apps. This move has dealt a significant blow to the movie and sports broadcasting industries, which have lost billions in revenue as viewers circumvent subscription costs on legal platforms.

The firm has also tightened restrictions on VPNs to prevent users from circumventing the crackdown. However, this has left many illegal streamers scrambling to find alternative devices and apps to continue their illicit viewing habits.

Anti-piracy experts have issued a stern warning to the public, advising them not to be tempted by these illicit options. They caution that these services are often run by criminal networks, putting users' data, devices, and even bank details at risk of fraud and malicious attacks.

"Anyone tempted to look for alternative devices or apps to access illegal streams should think twice," said Kieron Sharp, Chairman of the anti-piracy organization FACT. "These services are often run by criminal networks, putting users' data, devices and even bank details at risk."

The crackdown by Amazon is seen as a positive step in the fight against piracy, with Sky's Group Director of Anti-Piracy, Matt Hibbert, stating that it requires "full buy-in from all major tech platforms" to be effective.