One of the fights of the year is upon us as Tyson Fury lines up for the second time against Oleksandr Usyk, a rematch that Fury hopes he will win after Usyk won May’s first bout on points, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Boxing stakes don’t come any higher, and thousands of Brits will be looking to tune in when the fighters are set to start their ring walks at about 10pm UK time – 1am local time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the fight is taking place.
You can watch the fight on pay per view television through either Sky Sports Box Office, TNT Sports Box Office or DAZN. This will cost you £24.95, £24.99 or £24.99 respectively.
Some boxing fans might not want to spend this much to watch Fury vs Usyk given the on-going cost of living crisis and the fact this is a one-off payment for the fight, not an ongoing subscription. This means you might consider seeking an illegal stream tonight.
But one cybersecurity firm has issued a stark warning to those looking to stream the fight by nefarious means.
“Understandably, many people are tempted by the low cost of illegal streaming, especially during difficult times,” a spokesperson from UK firm Proxar told Express.co.uk.
“However, what people fail to consider is the serious cybersecurity risks involved. After all, illegal streaming platforms are usually riddled with malware that can steal your personal information and even allow hackers to access your home network. In some cases, hackers could even take control of your webcam or other smart devices without your knowledge.”
Although there are three ways to legally watch the fight in the UK, a cursory Google search for a ‘Fury vs Usyk free live stream’ will surface dozens of sites and links promising you can watch the action free of charge, but before you click on anything it’s worth considering the risks.
“Dodgy software downloaded to enable illegal streams can be packed with strange bugs that cause devices like Fire Sticks to freeze or crash,” the spokesperson said. “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.
Online fraudsters will be out in force tonight given the huge interest in the fight, and unfortunately it’s prime time for them to take advantage of live stream links and cash in by preying on people looking for ways to watch.
“It’s important to remember that sites may not be run by people simply looking to provide entertainment,” the experts at Proxar continued. “In some cases, they are operated by criminals looking to harvest your personal data, steal your money or exploit your devices for profit.
“It’s also worth noting that many illegal streaming services lack regular updates or security patches, leaving users exposed to a number of threats. Any devices running illegal apps are especially vulnerable to new threats, which can result in scams, fraud, and identity theft.”
