Computer Doctor

---

I often see post in San Miguel de Allende on Civil List and social media claiming we can get tv channels (ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, etc.) Netflix and HBO, and more for free or$10 to $20/month. Is this legitimate?

Over time, the cost of television networks has sharply increased fees, which frequently pushes customers to act in a desperate manner. They are frequently drawn to companies who offer popular content on gadgets and services for less money, occasionally for free with the purchase of a particular app, and without the need to subscribe to the original suppliers. Although the deal appears to be a steal, buyers should exercise caution when using these services because they almost certainly are. 

This is programing that has been stolen which means that these illegal service providers are downloading and distributing the networks' content without their permission. The provider of the illegal streaming service will eventually be identified, shut down, and punished. In an effort to deter other users from taking the same course, networks and Internet service providers may also exploit specific instances to highlight specific users as role models.

When you are paying for the legal services, the content owner, such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, or whoever, has end-to-end quality control. To make sure you receive the highest quality video no matter where you are, they set up local caching servers and acquire enormous quantities of bandwidth. There is nothing set up in this manner with a pirated service, and frequently these use back channels and VPN connections to avoid detection, overloading and slowing down traffic at any point between the source and your device. Aka buffering.

You get what you pay for.

You may wonder, what’s the harm in this? No one gets hurt. But the criminals behind these pirate sites can be part of organized crime groups who use the proceeds to fund serious crimes, and who engage in fraud, drugs, human slavery and money laundering.

So by watching that cheap movie, you could be contributing to a range of crimes you could not imagine.

Help fight piracy by obtaining your content legally. Don’t contribute to organized crime.

Accessing free or cheap content is not the bargain you think it is!

Digital piracy refers to the illegal copying or distribution of copyrighted material via the Internet. It negatively affects the creative industries, including film, TV, publishing and music.

Online piracy has an economic impact, as it affects government revenue streams and puts you – the consumer – at risk of financial loss. It also opens up security risks to consumers such as ID theft or exposing children to inappropriate content.

https://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Illicit-goods/Shop-safely/Digital-piracy