My friend just made a good point.

Microsoft makes computers right, and computers can get viruses. So seeing as the Xbox is also a MS product, and can connect to the internet and interact with other people etc. Without a firewall would it be possible for someone to send you a virus?

Just wondering, dont shoot the messenger.

Im not 100% sure but im going to say its very very unlikely. I have been into online console gaming since Xbox live came out for the original Xbox and I have never heard of a virus being released or found onto consoles. So with that little information I have im going to say no it probably wont happen. Could it happen? I suppose so but its unlikely

I don't think that it could happen because all downloads are official, as in you're not recieving anything that other people have uploaded.

No its would not be possisble anyway.

Because as rmX said there all official downloads.

Secondly most virues are programmed for Windows OS, seeing that xbox's do not run on windows then NO.

The only way thre could be a virus is if someone programmed a virus ESPECIALY for 360 and somehow uploaded it to the marketplace.


Microsoft do not make computer either, They own Windows the operating system.

yes, someone can send a virus to an xbox, because a 360 is virtually the same as a normal computer.

no. Its the same as a cmputer as the build, but not the system itself, Computers run on windows and viruses have been prgramed for WINDOWS. the 360 does NOT run on WINDOWS.

mostly viruses come from downloading bad stuff or emails

but i don't think the email system is the same as windows and microsoft wouldn't let you really download any thing dangerous on the 360 i think

I don't think it's possible for a 360 to get a virus.

its not.

Like slumpy monkey said, it could be possible but they would have to make a virus especially for the 360. And Microsoft doesn't build computers, companies like Dell, and compaq are the ones that manufacture them.

OK...Nothing needs to be said after this, I think...

It is TECHNICALLY possible for the 360 (or any console connected online) to get a virus...This goes for the 360, PS3, Wii, etc...

I'd say of those three, the PS3 is most likely to get a virus, since you can actually go on the net and download whatever (though if it isn't a file type the PS3 recognizes, it has you use an external device...but the virus could code itself to either run from an external device, or somehow bypass this limit, unlikely though)....

But it MUST be coded for a specific system type (360, PS3, Wii, etc)...

So...Two main reasons it is highly unlikely to get a virus for consoles is

A) Virus must be coded for whatever system it is targeting...(Firmware updates might likely further complicate the problem with coding for specific system builds)

B) Viruses would have to be directly downloaded or added to the system by the user...You can't just randomly be sent viruses from the internet...just wouldn't work (I suppose technically possible, but insanely complicated)

Both of those reasons combined, mean it is TECHNICALLY possible, but highly impractical to do so....

After all, Game consoles are computers too, but their operating systems are unique to that system, and all exploits they may have, would have to exploited by a virus that is coded to use that exploit, and to run on one of those systems...

So, the final word is....Yes, it is technically possible, but no, I wouldn't worry about it actually happening

Not exactly an expert myself, but that is how I understand it works...However, if some computer programmer wants to say I'm wrong or whatever, and explain why, go ahead...

its possible, but its not gonna happen. like has been said, you can only download stuff from the Marketplace, which is all handled by MS, or at least reviewed and looked over by MS.

It is very unlikely that the 360 can get a virus, like the red ring of death, although that was really because of faulty software.

for me, its very possible. i have an xata where you direct your cpu to ur xbox. no, its not modded and im not a criminal i use it for purposes such as messanger so i can import saved contacts or download stuff staight from bungie.net without having to wait till i get on for it to download. so say, my cpu gets a virus it could transfer to moy xbox. thats why i have amazing firewall and antivirus applications.