The CINEMAGOAL Scheme
Italian authorities have disrupted a sophisticated piracy network centered on an application called CINEMAGOAL. Unlike traditional pirate streaming services that operate openly, this app took a stealthier approach. It was installed directly on users’ devices and connected to legitimate platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify. The app then used authentication codes stolen from valid subscriptions every three minutes to grant access. Those subscriptions were opened using fake identities on services like Sky and DAZN.
Operation All Clear
The crackdown, named “Tutto Chiaro” (All Clear), involved 100 searches across Italy and the seizure of servers in France and Germany that held the app’s source code and decoding functions. More than 200 financial police officers participated in the operation. Authorities estimate the illegal business generated millions of euros in profits through unauthorized access and piracy, causing around 300 million euros in lost subscription revenue.
Impact and Enforcement
The CINEMAGOAL operation had over 70 resellers who sold annual subscriptions ranging from 40 to 130 euros, paid via cryptocurrency or foreign bank accounts under fake names. Authorities have already sent fines to the first 1,000 subscribers, ranging from 154 to 5,000 euros. The investigation remains in an early phase, with law enforcement analyzing seized materials to identify all involved parties, including end users. A separate IPTV service called “pezzotto” was also dismantled during the same action.
Source: BleepingComputer
