Watching Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s second round in the ring illegally could result in your personal data being stolen and your devices hacked, a cybersecurity expert has warned
Boxing fans eager to watch Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s second round in the ring need to be careful – or risk having their personal data stolen. The highly anticipated rematch gives British boxer Tyson a chance to reclaim the WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia after losing to Usyk in the duo’s first bout in May.
Ring walks for the fight are expected to begin at 10pm tonight (December 21) and will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office (Sky channel 491) and Sky Sports Box Office HD (Sky channel 492). The event is priced at £24.95 for Sky customers in the UK and €27.95 for Sky customers in the Republic of Ireland up until midnight on 20 December.
But with Christmas just around the corner, and the cost-of-living crisis wrecking even more havoc than usual on our purse strings, many Brits will be tempted to illegally stream the fight. The boxers’ last fight reportedly attracted 20 million illegal streams, and could attract a similar amount again. However, cybersecurity experts at Proxar say doing so could allow hackers to access your home network – and even result in them taking control of your webcam and other smart devices without your knowledge.
“Dodgy software downloaded to enable illegal streams can be packed with strange bugs that cause devices like Fire TV Sticks to freeze or crash,” the experts added. “What’s worse, these devices may come preloaded with malware that’s specifically designed to steal your personal data or give hackers access to your home network. This can give criminals an open door to access your financial information, logins and other sensitive data.”
Proxar pointed out that sites offering free streams of the match are seldom run by people wanting to provide accessible entertainment, and tend to be managed by criminals ‘looking to harvest your personal data’ or steal your money. “It’s also worth noting that many illegal streaming services lack regular updates or security patches, leaving users exposed to a number of threats,” they warned. “Any devices running illegal apps are especially vulnerable to new threats, which can result in scams, fraud, and identity theft.”
Even if you pay to watch the boxing match legally, like through Sky, remember you still need a BBC TV Licence Fee if you watch live TV. Otherwise, you risk receiving a fine of up to £1,000 (or £2,000 if you live in Guernsey). Some people are exempt from the annual fee, which is rising to £174.50 in April 2025. You can find out whether you’re eligible for a discount or free licence here.
Will you watch Fury vs Usyk tonight? Let us know in the comments section below
