“Piracy sites are a hotbed for malicious software, typically stylized as malware. The sophisticated criminal organizations behind these sites often disguise malware as seemingly legitimate downloads, tricking users into compromising their own security,” writes John Manchester, Director, IP Policy, Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC), U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Once malware infiltrates a device, it can operate silently, causing extensive harm before the user even realizes an issue exists,” he said.
Citing the 2022 report on the ‘Unholy Triangle’ by Digital Citizens Alliance that illustrates the links between piracy, malicious advertising and malware, GIPC reminds us that 80% of piracy sites serve malware via their ads, which in 2021 generated more than $120 million in revenue – half of which came from consumers.
Ads on piracy sites are known to steal personal information, hijack your system and spread further. GIPC reminds us to use legitimate Web sites, be cautious and to be informed.
In 2019, GIPC published a benchmark – and still widely-cited – report on the risks and damages associated with piracy as of that time. Piracy and the countermeasures against it have both evolved significantly since that time.
Further reading
Downloading more than content: Malware and piracy sites. Blog post. October 7, 2024. by John Manchester, Director, IP Policy, Global Innovation Policy Center, US Chamber of Commerce
US Chamber of Commerce: Pirated movies get 26.6B views, TV shows get 126.7B. Article. June 18, 2019. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor
DCA Report: Pirates, ‘malvertisers’ and ransomware make ‘Unholy Triangle.’ Article. September 15, 2022. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor
Why it matters
“While the allure of free or reduced-cost access to copyrighted digital content like movies, TV, and music might seem tempting, there are hidden costs that can be devastating,” said Mr. Manchester in his post.