How Illegal Streaming Sites Put You At Risk Of Malware

Illegal website streaming sites have exploded in popularity over the last few years largely because they offer users free access to streaming content that would otherwise be behind the paywall of the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney Plus and a long list of others. In the past few years, there has been an increased diversity of these streaming services however this can be bad for consumers’ wallets, as somebody may have two favourite shows but they are on different streaming platforms. Meaning that they either cough up the extra money to cover two streaming platforms or watch at least one of these shows on an illegal streaming site.

They may be able to finish watching their show on one of these sites and feel content by doing so. However, they may not realise that they have made their devices and wireless networks vulnerable to hackers and fraudsters. These unsavoury types of characters may be able to install malware onto your devices. If you think you have been a victim of fraud possibly due to malware you should contact your bank to ensure no funds have been taken out of your account. You can contact a fraud recovery expert to assist you in getting stolen money back.

What Is Malware

Malware is short for malicious software and refers to any unwanted software that is developed by cybercriminals to steal data or destroy computer systems. Malware is an umbrella term for viruses, worms, spyware, trojan viruses, ransomware and adware. Malware can infect your computer in a number of ways including:

Downloading Free Software, Games, TV Shows And Movies: These downloads could include malware which could be used as a tool to obtain money or personal information from you.
Downloading Files On File Sharing Sites: These file-sharing services often load spyware in with the download. This means that hackers and fraudsters will be able to see everything you do on your device, including when you type in your passwords. This can enable these bad actors to get into your sensitive accounts such as your bank account.
Downloading Files On Removable Storage Devices: If you find a random USB drive on your travels you should not plug it into your computer. This device may have been ‘lost’ on purpose by a hacker who is fishing for targets. If somebody does plug an infected USB drive into their computer the malware will spread onto the computer.
Clicking Fake Pop-Up Ads Sent By Tech Support Fraudsters: These ads could take you to an infected website that may infect your device with malware.
Phishing Emails: These emails attempt to trick people into clicking links within the email, the email may say something like “Congratulations you have won a new iPhone click here to claim your prize. But all you will receive from clicking this link is malware.

How To Protect Yourself From Malware As Much As Possible

Install Antivirus Software: Installing antivirus software allows you to scan your device for existing malware; if your antivirus software detects anything malicious on your computer it will let you know so you can then prompt the antivirus software to conduct a clean. You can also schedule your computer to scan for malware on a regular basis, however this feature is usually reserved for users who pay for antivirus software plans for an extra piece of mind.
Make Sure Your Software Is Up To Date: Ensuring that the software such as antivirus, operating system, apps and other software is kept up to date helps protect your computer against malware. Additionally, if your computer operating system is still Windows 7 you should upgrade to a newer operating system. You will be able to find out what operating system you are using by going into settings and then clicking on the system icon, from here you should be able to see what operating system you are using. Additionally, you should be able to see an update icon within the settings window which should prompt you to upgrade to a newer version of the Windows operating system.

Conclusion

Malware has been infecting computerised systems for decades and it is showing no signs of slowing down, ensuring that you know the signs of malware and what you should do if your computer has been infected, or knowing to speak to a malware expert or your web developers if you own a business, can ensure you have the best chance of avoiding malware in the first place or remaining unscathed after a malware intrusion.