Amazon may have defeated ‘dodgy’ Firestick developers – spelling trouble for British people relying on the apps for cheap, illegal streaming.
The retail giant launched its Fire TV Stick 4K Select this month – its ‘most affordable device’ yet – but with a key twist.
The new device will not run on Android but instead on an operating system called Vega OS, based on Linux.
An expert told Metro that the modified Android apps powering ‘dodgy Firesticks’ simply won’t work anymore.
What does this mean for ‘dodgy’ streaming on the new Amazon Fire Sticks?
James Bore, a cybersecurity expert, told Metro: ‘It’s going to cause a problem for the people who create these apps.’
Bore said that the new Fire Stick prevents certain apps from being sideloaded.
Sideloading is the process of installing an application from a source other than an official app store.
He said streaming apps are likely to be chief among those being banned from sideloading.
Bore also said that apps uploaded on the new device will find it harder to gain permission for things like internet connectivity.
He explained that, currently, app developers working on the Fire Stick’s Android system have a lot more freedom than they will going forward.
Developers working with the new device will have to go through Amazon’s store review to get certain permissions, he added.
Does this mean the end of illegal streaming?
While illegal streamers could soon run into trouble with the Amazon Fire Stick, Bore said it’s likely to remain a flourishing black market elsewhere.
Bore said: ‘There is no way this is actually going to stop illegal streaming.’
He added: ‘People are just going to switch to non-Amazon devices, as this will only prevent those specific devices from being used for illegal streaming.’
Sports broadcasting is one area that is heavily targeted by illegal streamers.
Media rights for sports broadcasting is a huge business – worth around £44 billion globally – so it’s no surprise that companies like Sky and DAZN have been putting pressure on illegal streaming.
Earlier this year, Sky Sports hit out at Amazon, arguing it was failing to crack down on the underground streaming industry.
Nick Herm, Sky’s chief operating officer, said: ‘If you speak to friends and colleagues, [or] you watch football, people will know that you can get jail-broken Fire Sticks, and you can access pirated services on Fire Sticks.’
He added: ‘With some of the tech giants, Amazon in particular, we do not get enough engagement to address some of those problems, where people are buying these devices in bulk.’
What are the dangers to people using dodgy devices?
The Federation Against Copyright Theft has warned that using illegal streaming apps and devices could lead to users having their ID stolen or their credit card details handed to criminals.
Yet a growing number of Brits are cutting legal corners in search of cheap TV and sports.
According to The Mirror, one mobile number was used for over 800 Facebook posts.
Brits were urged to contact the number via WhatsApp to get their hands on the illegal piece of tech.
Kieron Sharp, chairman of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) said dodgy Fire Stick users are breaking the law, and could be prosecuted.
According to FACT, watching an illegal stream is an offence under the Fraud Act 2006, and has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
But consumers are also at risk from the malware that comes with illegally modified devices.
Mr Sharp has warned that scammers could use the devices to hack bank accounts and hijack cameras and microphones.
He said: ‘There’s a real risk of having your identity stolen or similar.
‘If you give over your credit card details, you are giving them to criminals.
‘They could get access to the camera on your TV, if it has one, or microphone.
‘There is no safety or security with what you are getting with these modified devices.’
What has Amazon said?
Amazon has confirmed that it will completely change how people access certain types of apps.
The retailer said that ‘for enhanced security, only apps from the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV are available for download’.
Amazon has been keen to tout the benefits of the new device amid fierce competition from Roku, Google TV and Apple TV.
It says the new Vega operating system is ‘responsive and highly efficient’, with the device set to support Xbox Gaming, Luna, and Alexa+.
Amazon added: ‘It delivers vibrant 4K picture quality with HDR10+ support and apps that launch remarkably fast.’
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