If you're one of those people who uses pirated streaming devices, you should be very careful. Researchers from Digital Citizen have revealed that there are many privacy appsthat are running malware .This software aims to steal usernames and passwords and upload users' data without their consent.
According to research, around 12 million people are at risk due to this malware. This number of users are from North America and use pirated devices.
Hackers are primarily targeting home networks by sending pre-loaded malware to devices or third-party apps. The study shows that 70% of devices using the Kodi platform access illegal content through add-ons or third-party apps.
The truth is that it's easy to find pirated Kodi boxes or jailbroken Firesticks. In fact, they're available on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist for as little as $75 or $100. That's the only amount users pay to get the device.
There are many add-ons that allow access to pirated content (e.g. movies, TV shows, and live streaming sports).
Researchers discovered that when a user connects these devices to a home network, hackers can infect the network with malware by breaching the router's firewall.
Furthermore, these devices and boxes do not offer security, so they are an easy target for hackers.
Mobdro is a streaming application that found network vulnerabilities and uploaded 1.5 terabytes of data from the researcher's device without his consent.
How to avoid the risk of pirated boxes?
The researchers recommend taking some measures to protect users from hackers who distribute malware through pirated streaming apps and devices.
First, there should be legislation to enforce the closure of networks selling pirated boxes. In addition, digital marketplaces should ban the sale of pirated devices and jailbroken Firesticks.
Next, it is important to inform all users about the risks and problems that the use of these devices and applications may create for them.
Also, company employees should be informed and strictly controlled so that they do not connect such devices to office networks. It is necessary to protect sensitive information.
Kodi is not illegal, of course. But it does allow access to illegal content, and that's not good.
