Unauthorised access trying to make purchases using Apple TV BOX

Question

Unauthorised access trying to make purchases using Apple TV BOX

Hi all

Today I received a Confirm Purchase alert popping up on my iPhone. The only problem is I haven’t bought any streaming services of late. I clicked on the box and it took me to confirm a $9.99 Apple TV family subscription. Naturally, I did not confirm on my iPhone with a double click.

This purchase confirm box kept coming up. I kept declining the purchase. I was told by FB friends a hacker must have got into my APPLE TV box and was attempting to enable subscription services there. I was told to sign off and change my password on all devices.

I am now signed off in all devices and have entered a new password into iPhone and iPad. I want to check general security of the LG TV and change my network modem password before entering the new password. The confirm purchase window was coming from Living Room which my Apple TV is listed as.

Has anyone experienced this problem before of someone trying to hijack your Apple TV and experiencing display confirmation of purchases popping up on your iPhone?

is there anything else I should be doing? I’ve checked for weird applications and mobile use, and nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Any help would be useful as this was quite a scary experience.

DigitalArchivist

Apple TV 4K, 16

Posted on Apr 3, 2023 7:18 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

DigitalArchivist Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 4, 2023 3:05 AM in response to Urquhart1244

I contacted Apple. Support went through things with me. As the Apple TV controller was stuck under where I sit (without me knowing it was there), it is most likely I had switched on Apple TV without knowing it and accidentally hitting the $9.99 month Apple TV subscription. This was the first thing I saw when I switched on the Apple TV.

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Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,232 points

Apr 4, 2023 2:52 AM in response to DigitalArchivist

Today I received a Confirm Purchase alert popping up on my iPhone.

Was it an actual standard system pop-up notification (not in a browser or any other app)? Overlaying everything, and partly translucent and blurred background? Besides a convenience, it seems to work as a security measure as well!

$9.99 Apple TV family subscription.

There is no such thing. An Apple TV+ subscription is the same price for Individual and for Family Sharing.

Prices may differ by country or region. What is your country? I think the Australian price is 9.99.

I was told by FB friends a hacker must have got into my APPLE TV box

I’m pretty sure there is no remote access into the Apple TV box. I don’t share their opinion. It’s usually much more mundane. Could your Apple ID account have been active on devices that other people have access to? Not hackers per se, but opportunistic people trying what they might get away with? Or maybe friends or family or contractors at your house while you are away? Or any residence where you have previously signed in (B&B, hotel, motel)?

I was told to sign off and change my password on all devices.

That is good advise. Also see your device list. You can remove devices from your signed-in list remotely. Check your Apple ID device list to find where you're signed in - Apple Support. Then those devices will ask for the password the next time any action is done that requires authentication.

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