Millions of people across the world continue to get their fix of entertainment via Amazon’s hugely popular Fire TV Sticks. Although these devices are built for streaming via legal platforms such as Prime Video and Netflix, they can also be easily modified, allowing owners to access premium content, including Sky Sports and movies, without paying an expensive monthly subscription. So-called ‘dodgy’ Fire Sticks have boomed in popularity in recent years, but things are getting tougher for anyone who has purchased one.

Amazon recently announced that it was cracking down on illegal applications that offer access to content without permission, with the technology giant saying it will block access to platforms that aren’t legal.

Now it seems things could be ramping up further, with some users now seeing a worrying alert when trying to install certain apps. As spotted by the team at AFTVnews, a new message is now popping up on the screen when Fire TV Stick owners attempt to install certain apps on their devices.

“This app has been blocked because it provides access to unlicensed content,” the message reads.

This is then followed by a link to Amazon’s support pages, where the company explains, ”To protect both customers and content creators, Fire TV disables apps that are identified as using or providing access to unlicensed content. We encourage you to explore the wide range of content options available through the Amazon Appstore.”

“We can’t make exceptions as these measures protect all customers and content creators. Our device protections help safeguard you from risks associated with unlicensed content.”

AFTVnews is reporting that the change has come into force to stop users from installing cloned apps that are able to get around the original streaming block.

Explaining more, AFTVnews said: “Blocking installation rather than just blocking apps from running might feel like a minor distinction, but it eliminates a popular method Fire TV owners have been using to bypass the ban.

“Since Amazon appears to be blocking apps based on the app’s package name, those who want to continue using blacklisted apps have been using app cloning tools to modify blacklisted apps and skirt detection.

“Now, by preventing banned apps from being installed at all, it is impossible to use app cloning tools directly on Fire TV devices, as the banned app is never present.”

Although plenty of people continue to use Fire TV Sticks for illegal streaming, it appears things could get harder and harder in the future.