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A popular Canadian YouTube Channel is the latest victim of the so-called “crypto scams” attacking some of the biggest channels of the said popular video-sharing site, leaving its subscribers bewildered as to why the channel is streaming crypto-related videos instead of tech tips.
The apparent crypto-scam attack on Linus Tech Tips occurred Thursday, March 23, 2023, with the owner publicly acknowledging the breach on the channel’s Twitter account.
Linus Tech Tips is a popular technology YouTube channel that provides informative reviews and news about the latest gadgets, computers, and software. The channel has over 14 million subscribers and has been known for its insightful content and reliable advice.
What Is a Crypto-Scam?
A crypto scam is a series of frauds troubling the crypto market as they isolate and target individuals who are newbies to the world of cryptocurrency. They manipulate those who are looking for a quick way to make a buck and will typically offer a deal or investment opportunity too good to be true, with promises of high returns on investment.
The strategies evolved as time went by, and technologies provided them with greater efficacy, with scammers using various tactics to deceive victims ever so brilliantly. Some of these scams include fake ICOs (initial coin offerings), phishing scams, and Ponzi schemes. Crypto newbies are easily hooked as these types of videos are shown in the channel.
How Was the Hack Addressed?
As soon as the hack was discovered, Linus Tech Tips took swift action and contacted YouTube to have the channel terminated. The team also posted a meme on Twitter, as a way of notifying its viewers to disregard any crypto scam videos featured in the channel because they have been hacked.
Crypto Scams in the Past
Linus Tech Tips is not the first YouTube channel to fall victim to a crypto scam, with a number of channels being rebranded in the past to promote fraudulent activities, causing damage to their reputation and trustworthiness. The scam videos and live streams resulted in a financial hemorrhage on the part of the channel and for some viewers who fell into the trap.
TSM, another YouTube channel that was hacked in 2022 and used to promote crypto scams, was terminated, causing significant damages. These incidents have a detrimental effect on the affected channels, their viewers, and their reputation in the long run.
This latest incident has resulted in the termination of the Linus Tech Tips channel. The channel was eventually restored, but the incident has also raised concerns about YouTube’s security measures and its ability to protect channels from such a string of attacks.
Tech experts said YouTube channels must take additional security measures to prevent future attacks and restore their viewers’ trust in their content. The incidents also highlight the need for YouTube and other online platforms to take a more proactive approach to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future, they stressed.
Reaction to the Hacking of Linus Tech Tips
The public and experts have expressed their concerns about the hacking incident as it may seem that YouTube has become prey for this kind of cyberattack. Many have openly criticized YouTube for not having adequate security measures in place to prevent and protect such hacking from happening time and again. Some have also called for Linus Tech Tips to take additional measures to improve its security, such as implementing two-factor authentication and strengthening its password protocols.
