• Two in five Brits have had their bank details hacked while watching content through unofficial sources, losing on £1,680 on average
• A third of older people who have been hacked suffer in silence and avoid telling family, friends or authorities
• Ethical hacker Rob Shapland urges baby boomers to protect themselves against the dangers of illegal streaming

Older Brits are risking thousands of pounds by streaming illegal content online, as new research reveals that they are far less likely to be aware of the dangers of getting hacked than the national average.

Data from BeStreamWise, a cross-industry initiative which aims to help consumers stay safe while watching content they love, shows that two in five (39%) illegal streamers have suffered financial losses after being targeted by criminals. The average amount stolen was £1,680 – more than half of the average monthly gross salary in the UK.

Despite this, more than a third (34%) of people in the “baby boomer” generation say they never consider the dangers while accessing content through unofficial sources, more than double the national arage (14%). 

Levels of concern also vary by age. Two-thirds (66%) of 25–34s say they are worried about the threat of fraud or data theft, compared to 53% of baby boomers.

This is leading to a generation that suffers in silence when they are eventually targeted by online criminals. A third (33%) of baby boomers that have been hacked do not tell anyone, including family, friends and the authorities, compared to a national average of 13%. 

Rob Shapland, an ethical hacker with 16 years’ experience in cyber security, said: “Criminals are lying in wait to take advantage of illegal streaming, targeting money and personal information. While some older consumers may assume this kind of activity carries little risk, using modified devices or illegal streaming apps can leave consumers wide open to fraud and data theft.”