Consumers using pirate streaming services across Asia-Pacific are exposed to serious cybersecurity, privacy and financial risks, according to a new study released in June 2026 by the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), an initiative of the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA).
The report, Consumer Harms and Fraud Pathways in Asia-Pacific’s Illicit Streaming Economy, authored by cybersecurity researcher Professor Paul Watters, provides the first comprehensive analysis of the consumer risks associated with major forms of digital piracy in that region, including illicit streaming devices (ISDs), IPTV subscription services, playlist sellers, account sharing schemes and third-party streaming applications.
Among the report’s findings:
- Nearly half of tested illicit streaming applications were found to contain malware capable of harvesting personal data, compromising devices and recruiting users into cybercrime botnets.
- Consumers purchasing piracy services through social media, messaging apps and online marketplaces face significant risks of advance-payment scams and service fraud.
- Many illicit streaming services expose users to phishing attacks, credential theft and identity fraud.
- Consumers who purchase or share streaming account credentials risk account takeover, financial loss and exposure to stolen or compromised accounts.
- Pirate streaming sites frequently redirect users to malicious advertising, malware downloads and fraudulent websites.
Professor Watters noted that piracy services have evolved far beyond simple copyright infringement. “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,” he said.
In APAC, a broad range of risks
This report cited third-party research from the U.S. which estimated that 72% of consumers using credit cards to pay for pirate streaming services fell victim to fraudulent charges on that card. A test account was soon hit with nearly $1,500 in illicit charges from countries in Asia and Eastern Europe.
But in the APAC region, there’s a broader range of consumer fraud risk; partially because access to financial services and marketplaces varies from country to country.
These risks include advance payment scams where consumers pay, but receive no product or service; exit scams, where the service shuts down after a payment is received; malware infections that contain spyware, remote access tools or keyloggers; phishing and impersonation that leads to harvesting of credentials and data; and resale of stolen credentials.
Additional risks include unauthorized access to linked financial accounts, exposure to fraudulent advertising, purchase of compromised accounts, and lack of consumer protection that leaves consumers without ways to get refunds or resolve disputes.
In one case, a legitimate site accepted only cryptocurrency for payment, in an effort to minimize fraud. Soon, a “wave of clone sites” appeared, promoting special offers, accepting payment methods other than cryptocurrency; but having no actual service. Those consumers simply lost their money.
Practical steps
The report also identifies practical steps that can be taken by e-commerce platforms, payment processors, social media companies, banks, messaging services and infrastructure providers to reduce consumer harm and disrupt piracy ecosystems.
AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy calls for greater consumer awareness, stronger enforcement against piracy merchants, enhanced platform moderation and closer collaboration between industry, governments and cybersecurity stakeholders to address the growing convergence between piracy and cybercrime.
Additional research
Professor Watters is a cybersecurity expert and researcher with Macquarie University and Cyberstronomy Pty Ltd. Recent piracy reports by Dr. Watters include Poland (2025, for Sygnal), Brazil (2026, for ACE), Latin America (2026, for ACE), Southeast Asia (2025, for ACE), Taiwan (1015, for AVIA-CAP), India (2024, for AVIA-CAP), Singapore (2024, for AVIA-CAP), the Philippines (2023, for AVIA-CAP) and other regions.
Why it matters
AVIA and CAP serve an important role in creating piracy awareness and helping media stakeholders mitigate them. This current report contains a wealth of examples and use-cases that include technical details. It is available to AVIA/CAP members.
The findings challenge the common perception that piracy is a harmless or low-risk way to access entertainment. Instead, the study found that consumers are routinely exposed to scams, malware, phishing attacks, identity theft and account compromise, often with little or no recourse when things go wrong.
CAP General Manager Matthew Cheetham said the findings reinforce the need to view digital piracy as a consumer protection and cybersecurity issue, not simply an intellectual property issue:
“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,” said Mr. Cheetham. “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.”
Further reading
New study reveals piracy services are exposing millions of Asia-Pacific consumers to cybercrime, identity theft and fraud. Press release. June 16, 2026. Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA)
