The last year has seen an increase in demand for illegal solutions in accessing protected content. Among these, there was a growth in pirated IPTV platforms, free Netflix, as well as Sport TV broadcasts in Portugal, for example.
Now, however, we report the end of one of the largest networks operating in Europe, specifically based in Italy. At issue is the group called CyberGroup, an entity that provided online hosting services, ie servers for various pirate IPTV providers.
IPTV pirate platform serving more than half a million users
The investigations began in 2020 in the Italian nation with the launch of the operation “Operation: The Network”, according to the portal torrent fanatic. The initiative aimed to investigate the phenomenon of demand and supply of IPTV services, mainly seeking to detect the providers of this service.
Thus, after a first phase of interventions at the end of 2020, the authorities would even announce the dismantling of a network with more than 50 thousand users. Now, however, the culmination of investigations results in the detection and deactivation of an exponentially larger network.
The announcement was made by the representative of the Public Ministry for the Milan region during the last week. There he confirmed the action of agents of the Guardia di Finanza who carried out searches throughout Italy in order to reach all the identified sources.
It was one of the largest pirate IPTV networks in Europe
The network, which would serve up to 500,000 subscribers in Europe, was thus closed by the forces of the authority and its equipment seized. According to the official report, the illegal distribution network was supported by a “complex technological infrastructure” operating from Italy.
The signal was distributed locally and internationally to users seeking this type of access to TV channels. That is, the distribution of closed antenna television channels, cousin illegally distributed through IPTV solutions.
Investigations led authorities to the homes of more than 20 suspects, with the seizure of all equipment used in the distribution of copyrighted content.
Furthermore, to effectively terminate the operation, the authorities were able to identify the original source of distribution, as well as the respective ISP. In this way, they were able to detect the original source and arrive at its physical location.
In short, another major IPTV pirate platform is closed, but with the increasing demand for these services, the scourge of piracy will continue to rage in Europe as well.