How To Recover A Hacked YouTube Channel?

YouTubers work hard to gain views, likes and subscribers. But as soon as they get a decent number of subscribers and start making money, there’s a constant risk of hacker attacks. It is possible that hackers may take control of your YouTube channel and transfer the revenues to some other bank account. Hackers may also blackmail you into paying a ransom. They may ask for money to unlock your account. If your YouTube channel has been hacked, here’s what you can do to get it back.

Can you still login to your account?

If you are still able to login to your account, you need to immediately change your password. You also need to sign out of all other devices other than the ones you are using. Next, you need to activate 2-factor authentication for your account. This will make a lot more difficult for hackers to target your YouTube channel.

Unable to access your account

If you are unable to access your account, it means that the hacker has already changed the password. In this case, you will have to use the recovery option provided by google. In the account recovery process, you will be asked a number of questions. For example, you could be asked about your last password or the one used earlier to that. You may also be required to answer the security question. Other questions may also be asked based on how you have been using your Google/YouTube account.

Try to answer as many questions as possible. Even if you are not certain, try to make a guess. Google will essentially try to ascertain if you are the real owner of the account. To improve your chances of getting a hacked YouTube account back, initiate the recovery process on the same device that you were using earlier. It will also help if you are using the same browser and your location is also the same as earlier.

How hackers steal your YouTube account?

Precaution is the best way to deal with such problems. A common method hackers use to take control of your YouTube account is via phishing emails. These emails contain links that may download malware to steal your personal data. If you have received a mail that looks suspicious, you should not click on the links.

Hackers may also gain entry via pirated software. There are tons of pirated software available on internet and some of these may have malware. These may also have keyloggers that record all the keyboard strokes that you type. With such software, hackers can steal your username and password. Try to avoid pirated software, as it can prove costly.

Also install a reliable anti-virus software on your device. These can identity and block any authorized activity. And always choose 2-factor Google authentication for your YouTube account.