Content and platform security specialist Friend MTS is ramping up the fight against video piracy with the introduction of Viper, which it says is the first technology-led anti-piracy solution specifically designed to tackle the growing threat from illegal IPTV set-top boxes. Friend MTS will showcase the solution at the CABSAT show in Dubai in March.

Viper uses Friend MTS’s proprietary technology to monitor these boxes, identify the source of each illegal channel feed and effectively shut it down. According to Friend MTS, what makes the service unique is that it can identify these illegal broadcast streams which are hidden behind a paywall, and not usually detectable by normal anti-piracy searching methods.

“We’re really excited to finally be unveiling Viper at CABSAT this year,” said Friend MTS CEO Jonathan Friend. “Piracy from these illegal IPTV boxes is a huge problem, especially in the Middle East, and one that is growing every day. Viper will finally enable operators and broadcasters across the globe to effectively fight this increasing threat and work towards shutting it down for good.”

Illegal IPTV set-top boxes are available for as little as £250 (€330) a year and come fully loaded with major broadcast channels from around the world as well as VoD content and live sports. They enable users to access a plethora of channels from the comfort of their own living room with no need to access a computer or understand anything more than how to use a remote control.

Categories: Articles, CA/DRM, Content, In Home, OTT, OTT, Piracy, STB