Tech experts issue major IPTV warning to those illegally streaming Fury vs Usyk fight
Tech experts have issued a warning to those wanting to watch the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk rematch via IPTV on so-called 'dodgy' firesticks.
The two heavyweight boxers will get back in the ring on Saturday night (21 December) for another showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It is the anticipated rematch between the Brit and Ukrainian after the two first faced off in May 2024, with Usyk handing the Gypsy King the first loss of his illustrious career.
Fury, aged 36, is now seeking revenge after losing the undisputed heavyweight championship bout to 37-year-old Usyk. And he's pulling out all the stops, including not speaking to wife Paris for three months leading up to the fight.
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With ring walks at 10pm GMT, the fight will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN at a cost of £24.95. But, as with pretty much every major sporting event that's not free to air, there's a growing population that don't want to pay.
Enter the world of internet protocol television (IPTV), where 'dodgy' firesticks and other illicit apps have taken over the streaming world.
During the first fight between Fury and Usyk, people searching Google for a way to watch the fight for free spiked as last minute interest in the event boomed.
But watching the fight via an illegal stream, where organised crime gangs offer links either for free or at massively discounted prices, comes with a risk, so say the experts.
Kieron Sharp is CEO of FACT and aims to highlight the personal risks of illegal streaming.
Ahead of the fight, BeStreamWise said that viewers who turn to these streams may unknowingly put their personal data, such as banking information, in to the hands of fraudsters.
Research on this reveals that one in three (32 percent) individuals in the UK who stream illegally have been victims of fraud, scams, or identity theft as a result.
“Choosing to bypass official channels to watch the highly anticipated Fury vs. Usyk fight this Saturday isn’t just risky, it’s illegal and can expose you to serious dangers," Sharp said.
"Illegal streaming puts consumers at risk of malware, financial theft, and the compromise of personal data, such as emails, photos, and browsing history. During events of high viewership, fraudsters are targeting unsuspecting viewers."
Ahead of the first fight between Usyk and Fury, LADbible spoke to Calum Baird, a British detective in specialist technical law enforcement, who recently spent three years investigating complex cybercrime for Police Scotland, including IPTV thefts at the distribution level.
He said: "Free online streamers are not providing the service out of charity, but for their own gain.
"This could potentially be in the form of advertisements, many of which may be age inappropriate - consider sexually explicit advertisements which may be inappropriate for young viewers - as they are unregulated."
Baird added: "Streaming platforms may ask for your personal data to register, possibly even requiring a fee to access the platform/service.
"Inputting your personal details - even without payment details - leaves you open to the risk of financial or identity fraud, or even making you the target of further attempts - spear-phishing emails and calls with pretexting.
"Remember technology is traceable and illegal streamers will have a link back to you, whether it's through your input personal details or the internet protocol address you accessed the service through."
How to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk in the UK
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To watch Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk go head to head, there are three options:
1.) You can watch the rematch on DAZN with no subscription required. All you need to do is buy the PPV for £24.99 and you will automatically get a seven-day free trial which you can later cancel to stop the subscription from rolling over. You’ll be able to stream the match on a range of devices including PlayStation, Chromecast, and Smart TV. If you do decide to roll over your free trial, you’ll move onto a monthly plan costing £24.99 per month and get access to over 150 fights every year, with the option to cancel with 30 days’ notice.
2.) You can also tune in live on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491). The event is priced at £24.95 for Sky customers in the UK and €27.95 if you’re based in the Republic of Ireland. Sadly Sky does not offer free trials, but Sky subscribers can book the match here and if you’re new to Sky, you can sign up here.
3.) Finally, you can watch the fight on TNT Sports with a Prime Video subscription (free for the first month then £8.99/ month), provided you have discovery+ (from £3.99/ month) as part of your subscription. If you don't fancy shelling out, you can simply cancel your subscription after the first month.
Topics: IPTV, Crime, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Boxing, TV, Sport, Technology
Tom Earnshaw