England fans tuning in to tonight's World Cup match against Ghana have been warned to avoid fake streaming websites that aim to steal money and install malware. The match kicks off at 9pm BST at the Boston Stadium, and a win would secure England's place in the next round. However, security experts at Malwarebytes have identified over 40 fraudulent websites that claim to offer free live streams but instead bombard users with malicious ads and downloads.
Fake Sites Mimic Official Services
According to Malwarebytes, these sites look convincing, often featuring a video player, a "Live Stream Available" indicator, server buttons, and a "Watch Live" button. There is no signup or paywall, but the catch is that the sites are designed to fire pop-ups, hidden ads, and redirects through a malicious advertising network. "Instead of watching the match, visitors end up facing scams, malware, and fraudulent downloads," the security firm explained.
Official Broadcast Channels
Tonight's game is being shown live on the BBC, accessible via the live TV channel or the iPlayer app. ITV is also broadcasting matches, and fans are urged to use only the official ITVX app. Malwarebytes advises treating any site offering "every match, free, HD, no signup" as a red flag, noting that broadcast rights are expensive and free streams are likely monetized through malicious means.
Safety Tips for Fans
Security experts recommend avoiding any interaction with suspicious streaming sites. If a site opens pop-ups, launches extra tabs, or sends users through endless "click to continue" screens, it should be closed immediately. Users should never download anything, install any software, or enter personal information on such sites. By following these rules, fans can enjoy the match safely without risking their devices or data.
