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Game of Thrones stream websites offering new Season 8 episodes for free trick users into scams | The Independent

Logout Game of Thrones stream websites offering new Season 8 episodes for free trick users into scams

In addition to risk of malware attacks, torrent and free streaming websites may not offer what they claim to Click to followThe Independent Tech

Free Game of Thrones streams are still readily available across the internet – but not quite as readily as it might at first appear.

As the show comes to its end, fans are rushing to watch the shows as they air. But expensive streaming packages and the complete lack of legitimate options in particular regions have led some to search out free streams instead.

Interest in watching the free streams does not appear to be abating. Google Searches certainly peaked during the premiere of season eight, but they have continued to hold strong in the weeks since, and millions of people are still thought to be watching illegal and free streams despite various warnings. We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.

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Such streams can infect users' computers with malware , in addition to running the risk of sanctions for watching such illegal streams in the first place.

And various websites, which can be relatively easily accessed through web searches, are claiming to offer free streams – but in fact are tricking users into looking at websites and handing over valuable data. Shape Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Show all 9 Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos 1/9 Tyrion at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 2/9 Euron looking worried on 'Game of Thrones' 3/9 Greyworm at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 4/9 Daenerys at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 5/9 Jon Snow and Varys arriving at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 6/9 Davos and Jon Snow preparing for battle on 'Game of Thrones' 7/9 Cersei (and the Mountain) on 'Game of Thrones' 8/9 Davis, Jon Snow and Tyrion at King's Landing on 'Game of Thrones' 9/9 Golden Army leader Harry Strickland on 'Game of Thrones' 1/9 Tyrion at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 2/9 Euron looking worried on 'Game of Thrones' 3/9 Greyworm at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 4/9 Daenerys at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 5/9 Jon Snow and Varys arriving at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' 6/9 Davos and Jon Snow preparing for battle on 'Game of Thrones' 7/9 Cersei (and the Mountain) on 'Game of Thrones' 8/9 Davis, Jon Snow and Tyrion at King's Landing on 'Game of Thrones' 9/9 Golden Army leader Harry Strickland on 'Game of Thrones'

Many of what appear to be the most popular websites include buttons that suggest users will be able to watch or download the show for free, relatively easily. But clicking on them can take the users to various other parts of the internet – usually leading them to look at adverts, but potentially at more harmful content, too. Watch more Game of Thrones climax may have been revealed in season 2 vision

Some of the websites do in fact include videos, which appear to be unlicensed and pirated. Those videos are often hidden amid a

Those same sites might also encourage users to sign up with accounts in order to access the streams. Since the sites themselves appear to be operating outside of regulations, it is not clear what happens to any information that users give up.

Rather than setting up devoted websites, various people offering live streams have instead shared them through some of the world's most popular websites . That allows users to take advantage of relatively advanced and reliable streaming infrastructure – and lets them hide the illegal streams in plain sight, by giving them innocent-looking names .

In the UK, Game of Thrones is shown on Sky Atlantic or on Now TV . Signing up for a trial of the latter can actually allow users to watch the latest episodes for free, without running any of the numerous risks associated with the free streams.