Europol reported that: Criminal networks making millions from illegal access to premium sports broadcasts, film and television channels have been targeted in a major international operation coordinated by Bulgaria with Europolโs support. The seven-month operation resulted in 29 arrests, the dismantling of nine organised crime groups and the removal of over 27 000 illegal streaming URLs..
Europol said: What appears to consumers as cheap access to premium content is powered by complex criminal enterprises. The groups behind illegal streaming services increasingly rely on complex technical infrastructure, separating customer-facing websites from the servers hosting the illegal content and distributing these services across several countries to avoid detection.
In addition to generating significant criminal revenue, these services expose users to cybersecurity risks, including malware infections, spyware, data theft and other forms of online exploitation.
