The most popular technology-related YouTube channel, Linus Tech Tips, has been hacked to promote a cryptocurrency giveaway scam with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The channel, which has over 15 million subscribers, was streaming two live "BTC" scam videos, according to cybersecurity firm SOS Intelligence.
Scammers typically hack YouTube channels to show live streams with fake celebrities like Elon Musk, asking viewers to send cryptocurrency in exchange for a chance to win a bigger prize.
This type of scam has become increasingly prevalent in the crypto community, with scammers leveraging the popularity of high-profile figures to trick viewers into sending them money.
Alex DovbnyaThe channel has built a loyal following over the years and has been a go-to source for many tech enthusiasts looking to learn about bleeding-edge tech products.
Upon discovering the hack, Linus Tech Tips immediately addressed the incident, stating that they are "on top of it" with the Google team and are hoping to "harden their security around YouTube accounts and prevent this sort of thing from happening to anyone in the future."
The incident highlights the importance of online security, particularly in the crypto space, where hackers are always looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities.
Dan Burgin
U.Today Editorial Team
Vladislav Sopov