Having your YouTube channel hacked can be a nerve-racking experience. Your YouTube account likely holds valuable content, memories, and for some, a significant source of income. Immediate action is crucial to regain control and secure your account from further attacks. If you are using Bitdefender Security for Creators, recovering a hacked YouTube channel is a breeze. Here’s what to do if your YouTube channel got hacked:
Step 1: Open Bitdefender email
You’ll get an email alert from Bitdefender titled “Suspicious activity detected” as soon as your YouTube channel is hacked. This e-mail is sent to the e-mail address you used to create your Bitdefender account. It contains information about suspicious activities found, such as:
- Percentage of videos deleted (e.g. 55% of videos removed).
- Changes to the banner, video thumbnails, and profile picture.
Click the Secure your account now button in the email.
Step 2: What Happened?
This takes you to your Bitdefender Central account, where a pop-up informs you that your YouTube channel is compromised.
In the See what happened section, you will find a detailed list of all changes made to your YouTube account.
Step 3: Recover Hacked YouTube Channel in Four Steps
- Access Your Account: Follow the links in the “Access your account” menu to quickly recover your account. If you can’t log in, contact YouTube support using the provided links.
- Reset Your Password: Click the link in the “Reset your password” menu to set a strong, unique password with at least eight characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Review Your Settings: Follow the links to remove any unfamiliar team members, unauthorized devices, and suspicious third-party apps.
- Check Your Recovery Information: Ensure your recovery information is correct to prevent future unauthorized access.
It’s that that easy to recover a hacked YouTube account with Bitdefender Security for Creators!
If your account was used to post inappropriate content or if videos were deleted, communicate with your audience. Post a video or a community update explaining the situation and the steps you’ve taken to resolve it. Transparency can help maintain trust and support from your subscribers.