Ranveer Allahbadia's YouTube channel hacking incident: Here's ...

3 days ago

Times of India

Recently, popular YouTuber

Ranveer Allahbadia

, also known as BeerBiceps, faced a major setback when his YouTube accounts were hacked. The hackers altered his account names and deleted all of his videos. Fortunately, YouTube acted swiftly, taking down the compromised accounts and fully restoring them, including the deleted content.While Allahbadia, a prominent figure, was able to regain control of his accounts quickly due to his access to resources and connections, not everyone may be so fortunate.

In light of this event, it's essential to understand how to protect your

YouTube account

from being hacked and the steps to recover it if compromised.

How to identify if YouTube account is hacked

Knowing how to identify whether your account has been hacked is the first crucial step in safeguarding your YouTube channel. Look for these signs of a compromised account:

Access issues: If you're unable to log into your YouTube account or your password is no longer working, this could be a clear indication of hacking.Changed profile information: Any unauthorised changes to your channel name, profile picture, or banner image are red flags.Unauthorised videos: If you notice that videos have been uploaded or deleted without your consent, it's a sign that someone else may have gained access.Suspicious activity alerts: You may receive alerts from YouTube or Google regarding unusual login attempts or account changes. These should be taken seriously and investigated immediately.

YouTube account protection measures

Implementing preventive measures is key to avoiding the risk of your account being hacked. Here are some best practices to protect your YouTube account:

Use strong and unique passwords: Ensure that your password is strong, unique, and difficult to guess. Avoid using the same password across multiple platforms, as this makes it easier for hackers to access your accounts. Ideally, your password should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Review account permissions: Regularly review and manage the third-party apps and services that have access to your YouTube account. Revoke permissions for any applications you no longer use or recognize. Hackers may use connected apps as a gateway to your account.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is one of the most effective ways to secure your account. With 2FA enabled, even if someone obtains your password, they cannot log in without a secondary code sent to your phone or email.

Use passkeys for extra security: Passkeys, such as biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition), can provide an additional layer of protection. This method binds your authentication to a physical device, making it harder for hackers to bypass your security.

YouTube account hacked? Steps to recover

If your account has already been compromised, it’s essential to act quickly to recover it. Follow these steps to regain control:Log out of all devices

If your account is hacked, immediately log out from all devices. You can do this by accessing the “Manage Devices” section under your Google account settings and selecting the option to log out from unfamiliar devices.

Change your password

Update your password to a strong and unique one as soon as possible. Make sure that it is entirely different from the previous password to prevent the hacker from regaining access.

Contact YouTube supportIf you can’t regain access through standard methods, contact YouTube support for assistance. To do this:

Go to the Google Account Recovery page.Follow the prompts to verify your identity using a recovery email, phone number, or answering security questions.Once verified, reset your password and secure your account.

Remove unauthorised users

After regaining access, check your account’s user permissions and remove any unknown users who may have been added by the hacker. You can do this by navigating to the settings in your YouTube account and reviewing access permissions.

Re-enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

If you haven’t enabled 2FA already, make sure to do so immediately after recovering your account. This will prevent future hacking attempts by adding an extra layer of security.

Delete unauthorised videos

If any unauthorised videos have been uploaded to your channel during the hacking incident, make sure to delete them promptly. YouTube’s platform policies may hold you accountable for content posted under your account, even if it wasn’t you who uploaded it.

What to do if you can’t recover your YouTube account?

If the above steps fail, and you still cannot recover your account, visit the YouTube Help Center and search for “Hacked Account.” YouTube provides a form where you can report your hacked account, and their team will assist you in resolving the issue.Also read | Elon Musk criticises Sam Altman over OpenAI's shift to for-profit model | Check out the post