Can Apple TVs Get a Virus?

If you’re like me and love all things Apple, then you probably already have an Apple TV. They’re great, functional, and intuitive.

And, if you already own Apple products, you understand their interface. But now the doubts arise, and we start to ask ourselves if Apple TVs get infected with viruses.

Even if they can’t get viruses, can Apple TVs be hacked? Do you need antivirus software or other security tools?

Although I’ve never heard of Apple products getting infected with viruses, hackers, phishing scams, and malware, target popular brands like Apple more every day.

Let’s delve into the world of viruses, malware, and hackers and see if Apple TVs can get hacked or viruses.

Can Apple TV Be Infected With Viruses?

Apple products are hardy. Their code is secure and complex enough that viruses are hard to create for an Apple product. But is that still the case?

Because Apple products’ code is different from Windows products, Apple viruses are very rare. But it’s happened in the past. 

So if that’s the case, what makes Apple products like Apple TV vulnerable to viruses?

Don’t Jailbreak Your Apple Products

iPhones and other Apple products like Apple TVs are great pieces of technology. However, they may become vulnerable to viruses and even hackers.

For example, jailbreaking your Apple products leaves them open to possible attacks.

What is jailbreaking?

Jailbreaking is a way to self-hack your product and unlock its code to get root privileges that bypass any security measures that Apple has to keep unwanted software out.

Even though Apple constantly updates its products to reduce jailbreaking practices, many Apple users continue to find ways to customize their interface and give their tech a personal touch.

For example, once you jailbreak your iPhone, you can customize each app with art you’ve created.

You can even download apps from the Android store. The limits of what you can do with your Apple product are now open to many possibilities.

However, this poses a security threat and leaves it open to viruses, malware, and hackers.

In other words, it’s rare when an Apple product gets a virus, but when it happens, it’s most likely because it’s been jailbroken.

Can My Apple TV Be Hacked?

Theoretically, any computer device is hackable. Therefore, someone can hack an Apple TV. But, the better question is, does it happen often, and how does it happen?

Apple products have robust security measures, which make it tough to hack.

Several years ago, a news story about the FBI appeared. The FBI wanted to work with Apple to hack iPhones easily. However, Apple refused to work with them, and the FBI couldn’t hack into the phones.

So, they hired someone overseas, paid him a lot of money, and they figured out a way to hack into iPhones.

Since then, Apple’s spent a lot of money and effort improving its security measures.

Nevertheless, hackers will try. Hackers will try brute force attacks or try to guess your passwords and usernames to get into your products.

Other times, hackers will send phishing emails. Phishing emails look like legitimate emails from companies you’ve subscribed to. These emails often contain calls to action and links that grant hackers access to your computer and smartphones.

A hacker might be able to get through your Wi-Fi to get into your TV. And sometimes, they might even try to siphon data through illegitimate apps and software.

So, the question here becomes, how do you protect yourself? Do you need an antivirus scanner?

Does Apple TV Need Antivirus Software or Other Security Tools?

The quick answer is yes and no. Answering the question, “Does Apple TV need antivirus software?” is more complex than you would think.

Having antivirus software you can run on your Apple products is one factor in the equation. It helps against any virus or hack attacks. But just having antivirus software is not good enough.

With the ever-evolving sophistication of hackers, we need to attack back with antivirus software and a myriad of arsenal, including antivirus software.

What Is Apple Doing?

Apple does its part by creating hardware and software that secures your data, runs with excellent security in mind, and protects you when you browse the internet.

Apple uses an M1 chip on its products. It’s a high-security chip that protects your passwords and encrypts all of your data.

Apple uses built-in antivirus software that removes any unwanted code, viruses, and malware when it comes to downloading apps.

They use tech called “System Integrity Protection,” “Address Space Layout Randomization,” and “Execute Disable” to secure all files.

This software makes it challenging for viruses and malware to spread and create havoc. The software also encapsulates root files to ensure malware cannot change them.

Applications from the web and App Store are also reviewed before they’re accepted.

These apps are then reviewed with Gatekeeper to ensure all code is good code. If bad code is detected, Apple ceases the installation or stops the app from opening.

Apple takes protection further when it uses iCloud Keychain to encrypt all passwords and monitors against security concerns like spammy websites and viral code within that web page you’re viewing.

In turn, all websites are run in a “vacuum” that doesn’t allow bad code from getting into your computer.

If that’s not enough, FileVault 2 on every Apple product encrypts everything on your device. Even if your Apple product is stolen, your entire drive is protected by state-of-the-art encryption.

With all the steps Apple puts in place, it seems unlikely that hackers, viruses, and malware can get into our Apple TVs and other products. But we can’t underestimate the power of a hacker.

If that’s the case, what can we do to help protect our devices at home?

What Can We Do?

These days, the more cybersecurity we have, the better. So, we can arm ourselves against all types of protection.

First, invest in a VPN. VPNs are fantastic because they protect your Wi-Fi network, the first point of entry.

A VPN blocks all unwanted data from going in or out. They’re also inexpensive, which makes them worth it.

You can install VPNs on your iPhone, computer, and even your router. Why not protect yourself, starting at the source?

Using anti-phishing tools is an excellent way to keep unwanted scams afoot. Other measures like not clicking on unwanted emails or opening spam help immensely.

Don’t just password protect. Use two-factor authorization. Two-factor authorization reduces the likelihood that anyone can get into your computer or website. Even if they know your password, two-factor makes it twice as hard to break into your stuff.

Purchase an antivirus scanner. Getting an antivirus scanner isn’t always 100 percent perfect. Considering viruses are created every day, even the newest antivirus scanners are not always up-to-date.

However, scanning your antivirus scanner once a week will help catch and eliminate anything crawling in your systems.

Lastly, updating your Apple TV and other products is a sure way to stay safe. That’s because Apple updates its security measures and releases them as updates. So any time you see a new update, download it as soon as possible.

Complete Apple Protection

As you can see, any computer device is susceptible to hacking and viruses. Even Apple products, although rare, can get infected and hacked.

So, make sure you stay away from phishing scams, bad websites, and suspicious code. If you’re unable to, Apple has software in place that will help.

As a last line of defense, obtaining a VPN or antivirus software of choice can help immensely.