Recently, one of my friends kept bragging about watching the latest movies, TV shows, and live TV channels on his jailbroken FireStick for free and insisted that I should give it a try too. Though intrigued by the idea of having access to unlimited hours of content, I was still a bit skeptical about jailbreaking my FireStick.
To be sure if it’s legal and safe to use a jailbroken FireStick, I referred to relevant discussion threads on forums and asked some folks who have been using a jailbroken FireStick. I even learned that jailbreaking FireStick is very different from jailbreaking an iPhone.
I confirmed if anyone has gotten in trouble for using a jailbroken FireStick and how to ensure a safe streaming experience on it. Here’s what I found:
No one has gotten in any legal trouble for using jailbroken Firesticks. However, streaming copyrighted or pirated content with it is illegal depending on the Copyright Laws of your country.
What is a FireStick Jailbreak?
Amazon FireStick is one of the most popular streaming devices that easily converts any regular TV with HDMI compatibility into a Smart TV. FireStick allows users to stream content over multiple streaming platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and a lot more. However, to watch any content available on these platforms, you need to pay a high subscription fee.
Jailbreaking FireStick is the process of unlocking any restrictions placed on your device. This allows you access to unlimited content available across several streaming platforms. The process of jailbreaking FireStick involves installing third-party applications and extensions that aren’t officially available on the Amazon App Store.
Is it Illegal to Use a Jailbroken FireStick?
Jailbreaking or unlocking Amazon FireStick is not at all illegal. It is completely legal to use a jailbroken FireStick simply because of the fact that it is your personal property. You can surely jailbreak FireStick and use it without getting into any sort of legal trouble.
After jailbreaking FireStick, you can easily install apps like Kodi with its add-ons, and get access to thousands of channels and video content that might not be available for free or may be blocked in your region. While jailbreaking FireStick isn’t illegal, it’s crucial to be aware of what you watch through it.
For example, if you’re watching copyrighted content over any platform such as Kodi, you might get in trouble with the government or your ISP.
If the content is banned in your region, the government might take legal action depending on the Copyright laws of your country. Alternatively, if you’re tracked watching pirated or region-restricted content on a jailbroken FireStick, the ISP might block or suspend your internet account.
Risks & Issues Related to a Jailbroken FireStick
Amazon constantly works towards ensuring that FireStick remains secure for every user and that only verified applications are available on their Official App store. Once your firestick is jailbroken, its operating system becomes highly vulnerable. This is because all the safety filters that restrict the installation of unknown third-party apps are eliminated.
This leads to several risks that you need to know before jailbreaking your Amazon FireStick:
- As the apps you install are not a part of the Amazon ecosystem, they may contain malware or viruses that are specially designed to steal your personal data. This implies that after jailbreaking the FireStick, your privacy might be at risk.
- Most apps that are installed after jailbreaking FireStick aren’t optimized for the streaming device. Due to incompatibility issues, you may start encountering freezing, app crashing, or other stability issues while using FireStick.
Use VPN For Safe Streaming on a Jailbroken FireStick
Except for all the potential risks involved, if you still decide to jailbreak your FireStick, I’d highly recommend setting it up with a VPN. A Virtual Private Network ensures that your IP is hidden from websites or search engines that you use while streaming or downloading any content. Unlike directly using the internet, your IP address can’t be tracked or identified while VPN is enabled.
It’s strongly advised to install a VPN on your FireStick before jailbreaking it. Here’s how:
- Go to the Amazon App Store on your FireStick.
- On the search bar, enter your preferred VPN app name (some of the best options include ExpressVPN, SurfShark, and Nord VPN).
- Click on Download and wait for the app to get installed.
- Launch the VPN app and login or create a new account, you can choose to get a free trial or subscribe to their monthly/yearly plans
- Once logged in. select a suggested location or choose one yourself to enable the VPN
Bonus Tip: Use Antivirus for Your Jailbroken FIreStick
Except for setting up your Amazon FireStick with a VPN, it’s highly recommended that you install antivirus software on your FireStick before downloading any third-party applications from unverified sources. This is even more important if you have bought a jailbroken firestick from a local retailer.
It’s likely that the retailer may not have verified the sources while installing any apps, services, or add-ons on your FireStick. As mentioned above, there’s a chance that these apps may contain malicious files that carry trackers or harmful code designed to steal your personal information and payment details. To ensure that your jailbroken FireStick is safe for streaming, scan your device for malware, viruses, security issues, and harmful files.
Amazon FireStick supports several antivirus software that are best known to protect your devices from viruses and harmful files. These include Webroot, Bitdefender, VirusTotal, etc.
Here’s how to install antivirus software on your jailbroken FireStick:
- On your FireStick Home screen, select Find
- Scroll down and select the Search icon
- Use the on-screen keyboard to type Downloader and search for the app
- Download and install the Downloader app from the Apps and Games category
- Press the Home button on your FIreStick again and select the Gear icon to enter Settings
- Now go to My Fire TV>Developer Options> Install unknown apps and select Downloader app from the list
- Alternatively, If there’s an option for Apps from unknown sources, then turn it ON
- Finally, launch the Downloader app and enter the URL for your preferred antivirus app to install it
Here are some antivirus apps:
Watch Your Favorite Content on FireStick
The term jailbreaking FireStick implies unlocking any restrictions on the device to get access to apps and add-ons that are not officially available on the Amazon App Store. Though using a jailbroken FireStick is completely legal, watching copyrighted or restricted content on it can lead to legal action. Make sure what you’re watching on a jailbroken firestick is not pirated, restricted, or considered illegal in your country.
Jailbreaking your FireStick can lead to several issues and also involves some risks. Installing unverified third-party apps can contain malware and viruses that are designed to steal your personal information. As these apps are not designed to be used on Amazon FIreStick, they may cause buffering or crashing issues on your device.
Despite all the risks involved, if you still decide to use a jailbroken FireStick, make sure that you set it up with a VPN before installing or downloading any third-party applications such as Kodi. Additionally, to ensure safe streaming and protect your FireStick device from malware, viruses, and harmful files from third-party apps, install antivirus software through Downloader. Perform a scan on your device and enable real-time protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a jailbroken FireStick?
A jailbroken or unlocked FireStick allows users to access unlimited hours of content available on the internet. Jailbreaking the FIreStick allows the installation of apps and add-ons that are not officially available on the Amazon App Store.
There are several third-party apps that you can install including Kodi, BeeTV, TeaTV, etc. These apps open doors for the latest TV shows, movies, sports, and a lot more content that is not allowed by default on a FireStick device. In fact, you can also install add-ons and use services to watch live TV channels through a jailbroken FireStick.
Is jailbreaking a FireStick illegal?
While jailbreaking a FireStick is not illegal, it is important to use a jailbroken FireStick responsibly and only access legal content. You need to be aware of the Copyright Laws in your country and if the content you’re watching via a jailbroken FireStick is restricted in your region.
If you’re tracked watching any restricted, copyrighted, or pirated content on FireStick, you may have to face legal action by the government. There’s also a possibility that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may ban your internet account.
How can I avoid getting in trouble for using a jailbroken FireStick?
The best way to avoid getting in trouble is to use a jailbroken FireStick responsibly. Prefer not watching any pirated content and check if the TV show or movie you’re trying to watch is restricted in your region. I’d recommend using a VPN when streaming content on a jailbroken FireStick. A VPN will encrypt your internet connection and hide your IP address, making it more difficult to track your online activities.
Is it safe to install third-party apps on a jailbroken FireStick?
The major issue with jailbreaking your FireStick is that it makes your device vulnerable and removes the safety filters. This is because when you install any third-party app on your device, it may contain malicious files or viruses that are meant to steal your personal info and payment information. The best way to ensure safe streaming on your FireStick is to install antivirus software. When you enable real-time protection through an antivirus app, it scans your device for malware, viruses, trojans, etc.
