Recover a Hacked Channel

[00:00] As a Creator, you invest a lot of time into  your content and channel, and we know it can   be a stressful situation when your channel  is hacked. In this video, we'll walk through   actions you can take if you suspect your YouTube  channel has been hacked. So how do you know if  

[00:12] your channel might be compromised? Some potential  warning signs include: Changes you or others who   access to your channel didn't make: This includes  your profile picture, channel name, descriptions,   or email settings. Videos uploaded that aren't  yours. Unusual messages sent from your email  

[00:28] account. Or changes to your AdSense for YouTube  account. Remember, every YouTube channel is linked   to a Google Account. If your channel is hacked,  it almost always means that one of the associated   Google Accounts has been compromised too. So now,  let’s walk through how to recover your channel.  

[00:44] The best way to get personalized, step-by-step  help is to start a chat with our hacked channel   assistant in the “Recover a hacked YouTube  channel” help center article. The chat   assistant will walk through these steps to help  you recover your channel. The first step is to  

[00:58] secure your Google Account. If you can still  sign into your Google Account, you’ll need to   secure it. Immediately change your password to  a new, strong one you haven't used before. Then,   head to myaccount.google.com/security. Under  ‘Devices’ remove any unrecognized sign-in devices.  

[01:14] You should also verify 2 step-verification,  passkey, and recovery settings to make sure   the hacker hasn’t made edits. If you can’t sign  in to your Google account, head to g.co/recover   and enter the email address associated with  your channel. For the best chance of success,  

[01:28] try doing this from a computer, phone, or tablet  you frequently use, on the same browser, and from   a location where you usually sign in, like home  or work. You'll be asked to verify it's really   you – things like your last password or recovery  info. Try not to skip these questions; a best  

[01:44] guess is better than no information. And don't  worry, wrong guesses won't lock you out of the   recovery process. Once you recover your account,  you'll be prompted to reset your password. You   should also enable a Passkey. And, if other people  help manage your channel, like Channel Managers  

[01:58] or Editors, let them know that they also need to  secure their own Google Accounts following these   same steps. We also recommend revoking access  until you’re sure their accounts are secured.   A compromised manager account can also lead to  your channel being hacked. With your channel now  

[02:12] secured, the next step is to immediately clean up  your channel to revert any changes the hacker may   have made. Double Check Channel Permissions: Head  to YouTube Studio, then settings, then permissions   to see who has access to manage your channel.  Remove anyone you don't recognize or who shouldn't  

[02:27] have access anymore. Delete Unauthorized Videos:  Delete any videos the hacker uploaded. This helps   avoid potential Community Guidelines strikes  or copyright strikes against your channel for   content you didn't post. Review Video Privacy  Settings: Make sure the hacker hasn't made any  

[02:42] of your private or unlisted videos public. Undo  Channel Changes: Check your channel name, banner,   profile picture, descriptions, and links and undo  any changes the hacker made. If your channel was   terminated because of the hacker's actions, don't  panic. Once you've recovered your Google Account,  

[02:58] check your email. You should find a notification  from YouTube with details explaining that your   channel was compromised, and how to appeal the  termination. Once your channel is back in your   from being hacked again. Scan for malware using  antivirus software or ‘Enhanced Safe Browsing’  

[03:16] on Google Chrome. Make sure you and anyone with  access to your channel have strong passwords and   2-Step Verification enabled. Add account recovery  options, like a recovery email or phone number.   And regularly review your channel permissions and  remove anyone who doesn’t need access anymore. 

[03:31] For more info on channel security best practices,  check out our “Prevent Hijacking” video linked   to creating incredible content. If you need  more help or want more info on how to protect  

[03:44] your channel against hijacking, check out the  links in the description. Thanks for watching!