The YouTube community is in shock after the popular Linus Tech Tips (LTT) channel was hacked and terminated for showing crypto-scam videos. With over 15.8 million subscribers, the channel was among the largest technology-focused channels on the platform. Linus Sebastian’s Linus Media Group operates several other channels, including TechLinked, which also fell victim to the hackers. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of what happened to LTT and the current state of affairs.
YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips terminated after it was hacked to show crypto-scam videos
Linus Tech Tips, a well-respected and much-loved tech channel since 2008, was targeted by hackers who gained control of the account. The attackers changed the channel’s name to LinusTechTipsTemp and added a @temporaryhandle. They then posted two videos of old livestreams from The B Word conference held by Ark Invest in June last year, featuring Jack Dorsey and Elon Musk, with overlays linking to crypto scams.
The same tactic has been used in previous hacks, such as the one targeting the British Army’s YouTube channel last year. YouTube responded by shutting down the LTT channel for violating its community guidelines. Unfortunately, the hackers did not stop there.
The hackers have also targeted other Linus Media Group channels, such as TechLinked. They changed its name to Tesla and uploaded the same Musk livestream along with about 15 official Tesla videos. This move aimed to make the channel appear more legitimate, but it is likely that YouTube will take action against this account as well.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Linus or anyone else at the company about the hack. (Update: statement below). The content from the affected channels has been deleted, but there is hope for recovery. Linus has previously showcased the high-end hardware used by the company to store terabytes of backups created over the years. It is possible that these backups can be used to restore the channels.
The hack of Linus Tech Tips and other Linus Media Group channels serves as a cautionary tale for YouTube creators and viewers alike. It highlights the importance of strong security measures and the need for vigilance against hacking attempts and crypto-scams. The tech community eagerly awaits further updates on the situation and hopes for the speedy recovery of the beloved LTT channel and its sister channels.
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