With streaming services now presenting us with a multitude of movies and shows at our disposal, people are still drawn to various pirated movie websites.
But before you decide to download free and illegal content, there are a couple of things you should take into consideration.
This blog will try to explain the dangers of downloading movies from pirated websites. And reveal a goldmine of legal sources to use for your movie nights.
Types of free movie streaming websites
Streaming is prevalent nowadays, and looking for opportunities to watch movies without paying is quite appealing. Because of this, it helps to know the various forms of the site offering free movies and the caution that comes with it.
Here’s a breakdown of four common categories:
1. Pirated movie websites
These websites provide links to free downloads or streaming of movies and shows that the website is not authorized to share.
It is unlawful to download or free stream any copyrighted content. Legal repercussions can be severe, including penalties for fines and even incarceration.
How to Identify:
- Suspicious pop-ups and intrusive ads: Do not click if you find a lot of pop-ups or ads, as they might be potential malware.
- Poor video quality: The copied films can be of very low quality with pixelated pictures and low-quality audio due to compression.
2. Torrent movie websites
Torrent websites do not host movies in themselves. However, they direct users to the actual torrent files.
These files consist of data related to downloading the pieces of movies from the computers of other users. The files are not the movie itself but the instructions for downloading it.
3. Free streaming services
Quite several streaming services provide users with a movie and TV show database to watch for free with ads.
These platforms depend on ad revenues to sustain their services. Free tier options may be fewer than those with paid subscriptions.
4. Subscription services with free content
Some services, such as Netflix and Hulu, allow users to watch certain movies or TV shows for free without paying for a subscription.
It is usually applied as an introductory period when the channel tries to lure viewers into subscribing to the content.
The 10 popular movie pirating websites
The internet is an almost unlimited source of entertainment, but we have to take care of our children’s online protection.
Some websites contain prohibited materials, and it becomes crucial to filter such sites to avoid exposing your children to such content and legal consequences.
Here are ten popular examples of illegal websites to block for kids:
- 123Movies
- The Pirate Bay
- Vumoo
- Putlocker
- FMovies
- FBox
- Braflix
- M4uFree
- Yes!Movies
- Netfilm
These websites offer pirated media content, including movies and TV series, for streaming or downloading. Watching or downloading such content is a legal offense and comes with severe repercussions.
In taking a stand against these websites, it will be possible to explain to children the importance of copyright as a symbol we should uphold.
Is it illegal to use pirated movie websites?
It is against the law to download movies from pirated websites. This entails infringement of copyright and has terrible effects on the movie business.
Here’s a breakdown of the legal and ethical considerations:
Legal aspects
Those movies and TV shows are recognized as intellectual property rights protected by copyrights. Downloading or sharing content owned under copyright without permission from the content’s owner is a criminal act. Pirated movie websites ignore these permissions, thus entailing losses to creators and distributors.
Impacts on the movie industry
The motion picture industry’s major sources of earnings include ticket sales, rentals, and subscriptions for streaming services. Piracy reduces these profits, harming the legitimate interests of actors, directors, writers, and many others involved in film production. It also reduces creativity. Limited resources can inhibit innovation and motivation within the industry.
Ethical concerns
- Stealing content: Watching free illegal movies online is equivalent to stealing from their creators, who invested time, money, and physical strength in creating them.
- Disrespecting artists: Piracy reduces the appreciation of creative work and demoralizes those who would want to become filmmakers or actors.
- Supporting criminal activity: Pirated movie websites are normally run by people whose main source of income is from engaging in illicit business. Indirectly making use of these sites supports these operations.
Even with the allure of watching movies for free, one should consider that accessing pirated movie websites is counterproductive.
It is not just a matter of law but morality where people with their life experiences are involved, as well as the upcoming generations of filmmakers.
The risks of pirated movie websites
Even though it is easy to get free movies from movie piracy websites, the dangers are worse. Such sites are legal nightmares, but they also set you up for various technical issues that are dangerous to your devices and experience.
Here are some of those technical risks:
- Malware and viruses: Ilegal sites are known to likely contain viruses intended to interfere with your internet experience and attack your device.
- Poor video quality: Pirated copies have very poor video and sound quality and are usually in relatively low resolution with a jumpy image.
- Invasive ads: Most movie piracy websites have annoying pop-ups that can barely be dismissed. In some cases, they are fake downloads that actually download malware to your device.
- Phishing attacks: These sites may look like safe streaming sites to coax you into sharing your credit or debit card, which may complicate your online identity.
Tips to guard your child stream movies online
The net provides a virtually limitless library of movies; however, one must be careful about a child’s interactions with the material.
Here are some actionable tips to safeguard your kids’ online movie-watching experience:
1. Utilize built-in parental controls
All legal streaming services and most devices have strong parental control measures. Parents can set time limits and restrict kids’ access to age-inappropriate content on those streaming platforms. Some platforms support creating a separate kid’s profile that contains only a selection of videos and other content appropriate for children.
2. Select kid-friendly platforms
Some services are aimed directly at children, and it can be ensured that they will watch their films or TV shows in a safe environment. Look for services with strict content moderation and parental controls. These platforms guarantee that all materials suit minors and offer learning information. However, they should not be totally out of the monitoring reach, even if they are specially designed for children.
3. Monitor your child’s activity and communicate
Talk openly about online safety, explain the potential threats of restricted content, and elaborate on the aspect of safe internet use. Knowing what channels and what kind of movies/shows your child is watching is also critical. A new tradition of movie nights with family members is a great way to lead to discussions and sharing together.
4. Consider parental control apps
Having built-in parental control is just the first line of defense. Extra monitoring applications can be helpful. FlashGet Kids is an example of such a great app that allows you to track kids’ phone activities and live locations. The following are key features you need.
- Block inappropriate and illegal apps and games on your kid’s device.
- Usage reports offer information and statistics regarding your child’s daily phone usage.
- Set screen time limits for kids to watch movies and engage in other online activities.
- Live monitoring shows you what your kids do on their phones, including calls, texts, and notifications.
By practicing these above guidelines, you can ensure that your child is safe and comfortable when watching movies online.
5 legal and free alternatives to pirated movie websites
There are several legal and free streaming sites out there that have loads of video content without the danger that comes with pirate movie sites. Here are 5 fantastic options to explore:
- Tubi TV: Surprisingly, this platform offers a rich selection of movies and television programs. Currently, it is ad-supported, but the commercials are not intrusive, and the variety is great for a free app.
- IMDb TV: IMDb TV provides users with the option to watch handpicked movies and TV shows. It is not exactly a store for the newest hits. But there are many beautiful and famous albums that you may not have heard in a while.
- Pluto TV: This free service emulates the normal experience of cable television where one is able to watch different programs depending on channel categories.
- Crackle: For Movies and TV shows, Crackle combines both original productions and licensed content. It is centered on giving its users quality content so you are never left bored.
- Internet Archive: The Internet Archive provides a collection of free and legal movies, documentaries, and educational materials.
These are legal counterparts of piracy sites and really enable you to watch movies and prevent yourself from legal risks and damaging your device.
The takeaway
The threats of pirated movie websites are more than the advantages that come with it. By choosing legal alternatives and following the tips to safeguard our kids, we keep ourselves and the creative industries we consume safe.
There are thousands of free and legal streaming services, which means that we can all have fun without compromising the principles and safety.
FAQs
Are free movie streaming sites illegal?
Free streaming sites are not all unlawful. There are many legal services, including Tubi and Pluto TV, that provide free categories with ad support.
Do pirated movies have viruses?
Most movie files and websites with pirated content contain malware, such as viruses, trojans, and spyware. They can be dangerous and infect your device, jeopardize your personal information, and even lead to identity theft.
Is it safe to watch pirated movies without a VPN?
No, it’s not safe. When you use pirated movies and do not have a VPN, your IP address is open, and this makes you vulnerable to your ISP and even the police.
Is movie piracy a serious crime?
Yes, movie piracy is a serious crime in various legal jurisdictions. It’s a criminal offense punishable by fines that can run into thousands and imprisonment in some countries.
