Millions of football fans are searching online for ways to watch World Cup matches without paying subscription fees. Many land on websites that promise live HD streams, instant access, and no registration requirements. At first glance, these websites appear convincing. They feature match schedules, video players, server selections, and prominent buttons encouraging visitors to watch matches live.
However, according to cybersecurity researchers at Malwarebytes, many of these websites are not genuine streaming platforms. Instead, they appear to be designed primarily to expose visitors to malicious advertising, scams, and potentially harmful downloads. Researchers said they identified more than 40 websites operating with nearly identical layouts, code, and advertising infrastructure. Although the domain names differ, the sites appear to follow the same underlying model.
