'Dodgy' Amazon Fire Stick warning as cracked device could be spying on you
Experts are warning users of knock-off Fire Sticks that the gadget could be doing more than they realise - including taking your personal information.
The unofficial streaming devices are often called "dodgy" sticks, and they are illegally modified so users can watch premium content without paying.
Using a dodgy stick for piracy is illegal, but many Brits are willing to take their chances to access free TV. Experts have issued a warning that hackers could be able to steal your information, or even listen to conversations through the unlawful devices.
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“By illegally streaming, people are opening themselves up to multiple risks, some of which include identity theft, fraud, viruses and dangerous malware,” a spokesperson for anti-piracy initiative BeStreamWise told The Sun.
One of these dodgy devices typically costs around £49 to £85 in exchange for 12 months of access to premium content, which is much cheaper than paying full price for the most popular streaming platforms.
And using these devices is popular. A YouGov survey in 2017 revealed five million Brits were using pirated TV streaming services. And in 2024, YouGov revealed that a quarter of people admitted they had pirated content.
The spokesperson went on to describe these dangers in more detail, explaining that your risks are even higher if you exchange debit or credit card information to purchase a modified device or illegal subscription.
You can be at high risk of fraud by owning and using a "cracked" Fire Stick, as you are unknowingly sharing your details with criminals.
The spokesperson continued: “Devices that are connected to your TV and home network can give criminals 24-hour access to your data and beyond, without your knowledge.”
Jamie Akhtar, who co-founded security company CyberSmart, said: “Dodgy Fire Sticks are often modified using third-party software and unofficial apps, which lack the rigorous security measures of legitimate platforms."
This can allow malicious software to collect your information or monitor your activity and hackers can go undetected for long periods of time, he explained.
Britain’s Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) are leading a crackdown on dodgy sticks, working with Sky, the Premier League, and Virgin Media to find people distributing the devices, helping the police to prosecute them.
James McQuiggan, a security awareness advocate at online awareness organisation KnowBe4, warned of how criminals can even hack microphones and cameras in your home. And once they have your data, they can then sell it on the dark web.
Unauthorised apps often request permissions to their device storage, microphone, or camera, where users essentially hand over their data to unknown entities.
According to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Britain’s economy loses around £9billion a year due to counterfeiting and piracy, and it costs the UK around 80,000 jobs per annum.
And British police have been cracking down on this wave of cyber crime. Last October, a 38-year-old man was arrested in Wolverhampton for selling “illegal streaming packages in bulk”. In November, a 29-year-old from Liverpool was handed a three-year and four-month prison sentence for selling modified Fire Sticks.
It's clear that owning a dodgy Fire Stick and using it to pirate content is not a victimless crime. And you could be opening your door to an array of cyber criminals and hackers just by owning one.
Perhaps paying full price for Netflix and Disney Plus is worth it after all.
