Amazon cracks down on Fire Stick apps – could you be affected?

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Amazon tightens lock on Fire Stick, blocking piracy apps and VPN workarounds

Amazon Fire Stick TV
(Image credit: Amazon)

As of last week, Amazon has started cracking down on “side-loaded” piracy apps – ones that allowed Fire Stick TV users to stream international movies, TV shows, and live sports events without subscribing to the official broadcaster.

It’s worth noting that this is not Amazon’s first rodeo when it comes to blocking piracy-related third-party apps on Fire TV devices.

Earlier this year, it removed several Fire TV apps, but at that time, its objection was primarily related to those apps using resource-monetization services that granted cybercriminals access to users’ devices and residential IPs for potentially malicious activity.

Fire Stick

(Image credit: Aayan Arts/Shutterstock)

How the Fire TV crackdown will be enforced

Amazon’s latest piracy app block system has been developed in partnership with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global anti-piracy coalition.

Under this, Amazon will rely on ACE’s database of known piracy apps and compare it against the apps users install on Fire TV devices. If a match is found, Amazon will initiate a two-step removal process.

  • First, the user will be notified that they’re using a sideloaded app that isn’t permitted, prompting them to remove it voluntarily. Although Amazon hasn’t disclosed exactly how the message will be delivered, it’ll likely appear as an on-device notification.
  • If the user does not delete the app, Amazon will then automatically block it and prevent it from running on the Fire TV. Amazon has also not clarified how long it will wait after notifying the user before stepping in and blocking the app itself.

According to Amazon, the crackdown has two primary goals. The first is to protect users from malware, viruses, and fraud – something piracy streaming apps are notorious for.

The second is to support creators and broadcasters, as piracy significantly reduces their revenue and impacts their business overall.

VPNs vs. Amazon’s app block: What still works?

Arguably, the most concerning part of this news for Fire Stick users worldwide is that Amazon is blocking illegal streaming apps at the device level. This means users won’t even be able to use one of the best Fire Stick VPNs – which operate at the network level – to bypass the ban.

Given that the Fire Stick device itself will now be responsible for identifying and blocking unauthorized piracy apps, a VPN’s ability to spoof your virtual location and encrypt your traffic offers little to no help.

That said, using one of the best VPNs is still a good idea regardless, as it keeps your data private and protects you against prying eyes.

It’s also worth noting that Amazon isn’t blocking the entire act of sideloading on existing Fire Stick models – only specific sideloaded apps associated with piracy.

Fire Stick

(Image credit: Picturesque Japan/Shutterstock)

Amazon’s new Vega OS makes sideloading virtually impossible

To further future-proof its anti-piracy efforts, Amazon recently released a new model called the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which runs the Linux-based Vega OS – and not Android-based Fire OS.

Fire OS is an open platform and generally the go-to for users who want to sideload apps from outside official app stores.

The new Vega OS, however, makes sideloading far more difficult, as it requires an official Amazon developer account, underlining Amazon's commitment to stamping out sideloaded piracy apps.

Plus, it currently does not support VPNs, although VPNs aren't an effective workaround for Amazon's ban of piracy apps, regardless.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Krishi Chowdhary
Krishi Chowdhary
Contributor

Krishi is a VPN writer covering buying guides, how-to's, and other cybersecurity content here at Tom's Guide. His expertise lies in reviewing products and software, from VPNs, online browsers, and antivirus solutions to smartphones and laptops. As a tech fanatic, Krishi also loves writing about the latest happenings in the world of cybersecurity, AI, and software.

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