Cyber risks accompany the demand for "pirated matches" in the World Cup.
With the start of the World Cup events, fears are renewed that the heavy turnout of Moroccans on pirated applications and websites for the matches could lead to dire consequences for personal data files.
Experts in the digital field have warned against using these digital solutions to watch the World Cup matches for free, without taking personal protection precautions on either phones or computers.
Hassan Kharrouj, a researcher in digital and technical systems, warned of "direct cyber attacks targeting smart TVs, where digital criminals hack devices and turn them into what is known as 'residential proxies'," explaining that this means exploiting the victim's IP address and selling it on the black market.
Kharrouj added to Hespress that malicious applications connect the user's device to the server via their IP address without their knowledge; this allows criminals to use this address to carry out suspicious activities that appear digitally as if they originated from the victim's own home, which is extremely dangerous.
The researcher in digital and technical systems confirmed that there is no way to protect the user while watching these pirated platforms, as a person cannot know the intentions of the developers of those applications; their goal could be financial through "AdSense" ads, or they may seek to hack the user's device to sell their data on the black market.
The same speaker pointed out that the FBI has detected nearly seven thousand fraudulent websites in a short period; this reflects the very high level of risks and cyber threats that may not be fully detected, especially in the absence of accurate local statistics.
Hassan Kharrouj concluded by warning against downloading and installing unknown applications, as they may contain viruses to steal banking data and personal information (Stealers or Worms). He urged citizens to stay away from these pirated applications and opt for legal subscription options to ensure their digital safety.