Following several other crypto scam breaches, Linus Tech Tips hacked on YouTube. The 15.3 million followers of the popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips are now watching videos promoting cryptocurrency scams instead of evaluations of tech hardware after the channel was hacked this morning.
It’s the most recent incident in a string of high-profile YouTube accounts being compromised; con artists frequently access well-known accounts to rename them and livestream cryptocurrency fraud videos.
How was Linus Tech Tips hacked?
Yesterday morning, the main Linus Tech Tips channel was hacked, and many live videos were broadcast before the hacker started releasing previously private videos to the public. After a while, the account was suspended, perhaps while YouTube staff members try to get it back. Techquickie and TechLinked, two other Linus Media Group YouTube accounts, were also compromised and given new names that emphasized Tesla.
Although the method of how Linus Tech Tips hacked is now unknown, owner Linus Sebastian tweeted that he was aware of the issue. Later, he said that the business is working on it with Google and is “getting to the bottom of the attack vector with the (hopeful) goal of hardening their security around YouTube accounts and preventing this sort of thing from happening to anyone in the future” in a statement posted to Floatplane, a streaming service that was spun off from Linus Media Group.
Also, he pledged to talk about more specifics on the business’ podcast, although he disclaimed that they might happen this week because the scenario is “still unfolding.”
This is only the most recent in a string of hacks that have taken place over the past year, most of which were intended to promote livestreams that direct users to unprofessional-looking cryptocurrency sites via links or QR codes. Several months before tens of thousands of “viewers” saw a false Apple crypto fraud on YouTube, the British army’s YouTube channel was hacked to push cryptocurrency scams last year. A hack last year saw videos posted from an “unauthorized source,” affecting popular Vevo feeds on YouTube for musicians like Lil Nas X, Drake, Taylor Swift, and others.
One YouTuber claims that these frauds have been going on for months and that they are carried out by phony sponsors contacting content creators. Next, after being coerced, the YouTubers download a file associated with the sponsorship, which turns out to be malicious software intended to steal cookies, take over computers from a distance, and finally take over YouTube accounts.
Many people want YouTube to add a lockdown mode for high-profile accounts where, for a period of time, you can’t rename your channel, use livestreaming options, or delete videos if you check in from an unidentified browser or location (based on IP and other variables). This could aid channel owners in regaining control of their YouTube accounts before any serious harm is done, especially when combined with notifications when a new location has logged in.
In order to rename a channel or delete videos, you would need a second approval from another account. YouTube may even incorporate additional two-factor prompts for channel actions. Also, this might lessen the effects of a YouTuber’s own machine being compromised. I hope YouTube can come up with some even better solutions and get this under control because many users are tired of waking up to notifications on their phones regarding useless crypto videos.
In case you would like to watch Sebastian’s latest video about the Linus Tech Tips hacked issue you can do so from the link right here. If you come across a channel that appears to be hacked, the wisest thing you could do is to report the suspicious channel to YouTube’s support team. The reports of hacking are getting more frequent by the day and it is across various platforms. To read about other recent news about privacy violations and account breaches, check out the articles below and see how you can take precautions.
