Websites offering free streams of the new series of Game of Thrones may contain malware which steals private data, research has found.
The eighth and final season of the hit fantasy show is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK with a paid subscription.
Demand for the hugely popular show has prompted some viewers to investigate illegal streaming platforms.
An investigation by Check Point Research found that three streaming sites tried to trick users into entering personal details, which could then be used in phishing scams.
“Fans would find these malicious sites by looking up ‘Game of Thrones stream’ on Google and other search engines,” a spokesperson for the company told The Independent.
“The links may also appear in emails, banner ads on websites and social media ads.
“Instead of streaming the episode, the links typically download malware to the user’s device. Other links are intended to coerce users into providing personal information that may be used for future targeted phishing or scam campaigns.”
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The company also discovered fake merchandise sites posing as official stores.
The show’s final season premiered on Monday, opening to record ratings on both sides of the Atlantic as millions of viewers tuned in for the first episode since 2017.
Some 17.4 million people in the US watched the first instalment, titled Winterfell, on TV and online on Sunday night.
In the UK, Sky reported that 3.39 million people watched the show on Monday.
Game of Thrones airs on Mondays on Sky Atlantic at 2am and 9pm
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