Illegal streaming users in Asia-Pacific face cybercrime

The Coalition Against Piracy has published research on the risks users of illegal streaming services face in Asia-Pacific, arguing that those risks go beyond copyright infringement to include cybercrime and consumer harm.

The report examined major forms of digital piracy in the region, including illicit streaming devices, IPTV subscription services, playlist sellers, account-sharing schemes and third-party streaming applications. It found that users accessing television, film and sports content through pirate services can be exposed to malware, phishing, identity theft, account compromise and payment fraud.

One central finding was that nearly half of the illicit streaming applications tested contained malware. The research found that this malware could harvest personal data, compromise devices and recruit users into botnets linked to wider criminal activity.

The study also examined how piracy services are sold. Consumers who buy subscriptions or access through social media platforms, messaging apps and online marketplaces risk advance-payment scams and service fraud. Pirate streaming sites also often redirect users to malicious advertising, malware downloads and fraudulent websites.

Researchers found that the harm can continue after the initial transaction. Consumers who buy or share streaming account credentials can face account takeover, financial loss and exposure to stolen or compromised accounts.

Consumer risks

The findings come as sports broadcasters and rights holders continue efforts to curb illegal streaming of premium live events, including top-flight football. The study argues that the issue should be seen not only as lost content revenue but also as a matter of online safety and consumer financial security.

Professor Paul Watters, who authored the report, said users often underestimate the dangers of pirate streaming offers.

"Many consumers believe they are simply finding a cheaper way to watch television, movies and sports content. In reality, they are often stepping into an ecosystem that exposes them to malware, identity theft, fraud and broader cybercrime. The risks are substantial and, in many cases, invisible to users until after the damage has been done," Watters said.

The Coalition Against Piracy is an initiative of the Asia Video Industry Association, a trade body representing the video industry across Asia-Pacific. Through its anti-piracy arm, the group has sought to frame illegal streaming as part of a broader criminal ecosystem rather than a standalone copyright problem.

Matthew Cheetham, General Manager of the Coalition Against Piracy, said the new research underscored that shift.

"For years, piracy has been framed primarily as a content theft problem. This research shows that it is increasingly a consumer harm problem. The same criminal networks facilitating piracy are often creating opportunities for fraud, phishing, malware distribution and identity theft," Cheetham said.

He warned consumers against treating suspiciously cheap or unrestricted services as harmless alternatives to authorised platforms.

"The message to consumers is straightforward: if a streaming service looks too good to be true, it probably is. The financial savings offered by piracy services can come at a far greater cost in terms of privacy, security and personal risk," Cheetham said.

Wider response

Beyond documenting the risks, the report sets out measures for online platforms, payment companies, banks, messaging services and infrastructure providers. It argues that these intermediaries can help reduce consumer exposure and disrupt the channels through which piracy operators market and monetise their services.

That approach reflects how illicit streaming has spread across mainstream digital services rather than remaining confined to specialist piracy forums. Subscription offers, device sales and account-sharing schemes can now be promoted and transacted through everyday consumer platforms, making enforcement harder and exposing a broader pool of users to fraud.

The report calls for stronger action against piracy merchants, tighter moderation by digital platforms and closer coordination between industry groups, governments and cybersecurity specialists. It also argues for greater consumer awareness of the risks attached to illegal streaming, especially among users drawn in by low prices or access to premium sports and entertainment.

For broadcasters and rights holders, the findings add another line of argument in long-running anti-piracy campaigns. For cybersecurity and consumer protection bodies, they suggest that streaming piracy is no longer just an intellectual property issue, but part of a wider pattern of online scams and malicious activity affecting household users across the region.