MORE than a million illegal TV set-top boxes which allow consumers to stream content illegally have been sold in the UK in the last two years.

Up to a quarter of Britons are estimated to access digital material illegally, but most people do not realise digital piracy could be putting them at risk, with dangers including inappropriate advertising that could be seen by young children, electrical safety associated with counterfeit parts and financial cyber crime.

The news comes a day before the Teesside Crown Court trial of a shop owner accused of selling so-called Kodi boxes, allowing free access to premium content.

The Northern Echo:

In a possible landmark case, Brian Thompson, above, of Middlesbrough, has denied three charges of selling the "pre-loaded" Android boxes.

The 54-year-old runs Cutprice Tomo TVs on Parliament Road in the town.

A joint report by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and City of London Police, along with other organisations, said the organised criminal gangs behind it are profiting by millions of pounds from the fraud and are often associated with other serious crimes.

It warns of several concerning trends emerging that consumers need to be aware of.

These include the dark web and bitcoin boom, as more criminal gangs are using the dark web - hidden from the mainstream internet - to sell illicit information, such as the illegal software used to modify set-top boxes or the customer data they have acquired through malware.

It also warns the availability of illegal add-ons to software has helped organised gangs reach a wider audience, but these add-ons have no parental controls or security standards.

Social media streaming is now overtaking web streaming, with most streaming now happening through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

This is helping the criminals attract more viewers and is putting more users at risk of malware or security issues, the report said.

It also describes how social media commerce is replacing the pub or car boot sale.

Criminals selling illicit streaming devices are moving their business online, advertising on social media platforms and e-commerce sites, helping them remain anonymous and avoid detection.

A spokesman for intellectual property protection organisation Fact said: “Pirates are not Robin Hood characters, they are criminals who do it to make money through illicit means.”