by Google
Is your YouTube channel safe? Whether YouTube is your full-time job or just a hobby, you definitely don't want to lose your channel. Insufficient security creates space for scammers and hackers. Recently, there has been a lot of hacking and we have received many reports of channel theft. Fortunately, we were able to return these channels to their owners, but it is very important that you protect yourself as much as possible online. That's why we have prepared a few tips for you on how you can protect your YouTube channel from being stolen.
1. CREATE A STRONG PASSWORD AND PROTECT IT
Thanks to a strong and complex password, your personal information will be safe and you will be able to prevent account theft. When creating a password, it is recommended to use at least 8 characters, it can be any combination of numbers, letters and symbols. For greater security, create a combination that is unique and do not use it to log in to other accounts, using one password increases the risk of hacking. Also avoid entering personal information, such as birthdays, first names or words like “password” or the number combination “1234”.
You can also protect your password using an extension in your browser called “Password Protection”. Once you have this extension installed, you will see a warning every time you enter your password on a website that does not belong to Google. For example, if you enter your password on a website that pretends to be Google, you will see a warning and you will be able to change your YouTube account password immediately. In this way, it can protect against phishing.
Another great tool for protecting your password is the so-called. A password managerthat helps you create and manage strong, unique passwords. You can even check your login details. To see if any of the passwords in your Google Account have been compromised, weak, or used across multiple accounts, you can use the Password Checker feature.
Last but not least, don't share your login details with anyone or anything. YouTube will never ask you for your passwords, social security number, or financial information via email, text, or phone call. This data is sensitive and should be kept very secure.
2. REGULAR CHECKUP IS VERY IMPORTANT
The Security Checkup tool will help you with this, generating specific recommendations for securing your account. It will show you your inactive logins, recent security activity, and password strength.
A great way to have more control over how you sign in to your accounts is to add a phone number or email address to your account. This will prevent someone from using your account without permission, you will receive notifications about suspicious activity, and you can recover your account if you accidentally log out.
If you haven't already enabled two-step verification wherever possible, it's time to change that. This method of protection is the most accessible, you can set it up with a few clicks, and it helps prevent hackers from getting into your account, even if they steal your password.
Don't forget about updates either. If you're using an outdated browser, operating system, or applications, the software may not be sufficiently secure against hackers. Therefore, it's important not to ignore updates, but to install them as soon as possible. Always keep your software up to date and don't forget to back up your account regularly.
3. BEWARE OF SUSPICIOUS MESSAGES
The most common scammers use is phishing. It is a form of attack in which a criminal pretends to be a trustworthy person or institution in order to obtain sensitive information from the victim, such as an ID card number, birth certificate number, or credit card numbers. We have the most experience with this type of scam.
The scam is carried out by a hacker sending a fake email with a tempting offer of cooperation to a YouTube creator, while pretending to be a trustworthy brand with a sophisticated website and email. This email always contains a request to download some kind of software. The moment the victim starts installing the program, a new extension is automatically installed in your web browser, through which the hackers steal all the data they need. What's very dangerous about this whole scam is that once you start installing the program, your data is gone within seconds. These attacks are very common today and it's important that you be able to recognize them. The best way to protect yourself from this attack is to simply ignore suspicious emails, and if you suspect that a YouTube video contains spam or phishing, you can report it.
The Internet is a place that offers us endless possibilities, but like everywhere else, there are threats in the digital space that you need to be especially careful of. Protect your account from hackers and scammers, and don't hesitate to contact us if necessary.
