Bhubaneswar: In a shocking turn of events, the widely followed YouTube channel "Beer Biceps," run by influential content creator Ranveer Allahabadia, was recently compromised in a high-profile hacking incident. The attack has sent ripples through the online community, raising concerns about digital security and the vulnerability of content creators in the age of social media.
Prameya News7 English spoke with cybersecurity expert Anupama Singh to get to the root cause of the cyber mishap. She brought to the fore a lesser highlighted aspect stating “This may or may not be on purpose and we say people are our assets for a reason. Ironiclally, at least 20% of breaches are said to have happened using internal accounts, hence spending on training & awareness on social engineering sessions is paramount”
In addition, she spoke at length on the following precautionary measures that Youtubers or any small or medium scale organisation could keep in view to be safe.
1. Account Security
The Importance of Strong Passwords
Weak passwords remain a significant vulnerability. According to a 2019 Google survey:
52% of people reuse the same password for multiple accounts
13% use the same password for all accounts
Best Practices:
Use a unique, complex password for your YouTube/Google account
Aim for at least 12 characters, mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
Consider using a password manager. LastPass reports that only 45% of individuals use unique passwords for each account
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Google reports that enabling 2FA can block 99.9% of automated attacks. Despite this:
Only 37% of Americans use two-factor authentication, according to a 2019 Duo Security report
Best Practices:
Enable 2FA on your Google Account
Prefer authenticator apps over SMS (SMS is vulnerable to SIM swapping attacks)
Keep backup codes in a secure, offline location
Recovery Options
A 2020 Google survey found that:
75% of people would be locked out of their accounts if they lost their phones
Best Practices:
Set up multiple recovery options (phone number, alternate email)
Regularly update these recovery options
Consider using physical security keys for additional protection
2. Login and Access Management
Monitoring Account Activity
According to a 2021 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report:
61% of breaches involved credentials
Best Practices:
Regularly check your account's recent security events in Google Security Checkup
Set up notifications for new logins or suspicious activities
Review your YouTube Studio dashboard for any unauthorized changes
Third-Party Access
A 2020 IBM study found that:
20% of companies experienced a security incident through third-party access
Best Practices:
Regularly review and revoke access for unnecessary third-party apps
Be cautious when granting permissions to new apps or services
Use OAuth 2.0 for secure authorization when integrating with third-party services
3. Network and Device Security
Secure Networks
According to a 2019 iPass Mobile Security Report:
81% of CIOs said their company had experienced a Wi-Fi-related security incident in the last 12 months
Best Practices:
Avoid using public Wi-Fi to access your YouTube account
If necessary, use a reputable VPN service when on public networks
Ensure your home Wi-Fi network is secured with WPA3 encryption
Device Security
A 2020 Ponemon Institute study found that:
67% of SMBs experienced a cyberattack due to employees using their personal devices for work
Best Practices:
Keep all devices used to access your account updated with the latest security patches
Use antivirus software and keep it updated (only 50% of Americans regularly update their antivirus software, according to a 2018 Google/Harris Poll)
Enable device encryption where possible
4. Phishing and Social Engineering Protection
Email Security
Verizon's 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report states that:
Phishing was present in 36% of breaches, up from 25% in the previous year
Best Practices:
Be wary of emails claiming to be from YouTube or Google asking for login information
Check the sender's email address carefully
Don't click on suspicious links; go directly to youtube.com instead
Use email filtering tools to reduce spam and phishing attempts
Social Engineering Awareness
According to a 2020 Proofpoint report:
99% of cyberattacks rely on human interaction
Best Practices:
Be cautious of unsolicited calls or messages claiming to be from YouTube support
Verify the identity of anyone requesting sensitive information
Educate your team about social engineering tactics
5. Content Protection
Copyright Tools
YouTube reports that:
Content ID has generated over $5.5 billion for rightsholders as of 2021
More than 800 million videos have been claimed by Content ID
Best Practices:
Use YouTube's Copyright Match Tool to find re-uploads of your content
Set up Content ID if eligible to protect your content at scale
Regularly monitor for unauthorized use of your content across the platform
Watermarking and Metadata
While specific statistics are hard to come by, digital watermarking can significantly deter content theft.
Best Practices:
Add a subtle watermark to your videos
Include metadata in your video files to prove ownership
Consider using invisible watermarking techniques for added security
6. Channel Settings and Features
Visibility and Privacy Settings
YouTube provides various privacy options, but usage statistics are not publicly available.
Best Practices:
Regularly review your channel's visibility settings
Be cautious when setting videos as "Unlisted" - only share links with trusted parties
Use YouTube's privacy-enhanced mode when embedding videos on external sites
Community Management
According to YouTube:
Channels that enable community moderation see 25% fewer moderation issues
Best Practices:
Adjust your community settings to prevent spam and abuse
Consider moderating comments, especially on larger channels
Use YouTube's automated moderation tools in conjunction with manual moderation
7. Ongoing Education and Vigilance
Stay Informed
The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving. A 2021 Accenture report found that:
68% of business leaders feel their cybersecurity risks are increasing
Best Practices:
Keep up with YouTube's official security recommendations and updates
Follow YouTube Creator channels for the latest news and best practices
Attend webinars or online courses about digital security regularly
Regular Security Audits
While specific YouTube statistics aren't available, regular security audits are crucial. A 2020 Ponemon Institute study found that:
Companies that conducted regular security audits saved an average of $2.86 million in breach costs
Best Practices:
Conduct quarterly reviews of your account settings and security measures
Stay updated on new security features introduced by YouTube
Consider hiring a cybersecurity professional for an annual audit of your digital presence
Conclusion
"Securing your YouTube channel is an ongoing process that requires vigilance, education, and regular maintenance. By implementing these best practices and staying informed about the latest security trends, you can significantly reduce the risk of your channel being compromised".
“Content creators could also avail for cyber insurance in the light of such attacks”, Anupama concluded.
