YouTube account hacked? Google’s new AI bot helps get it back

Google has confirmed that YouTube users who have been locked out of their accounts following a hack will soon receive a brand new AI-powered assistant to help them quickly regain access. In fact, the brand new account recovery tool is already available for some users.

To log into YouTube, you first need to enter your Google account email address and password. This will allow you to like videos, save favorites, subscribe to channels, and so on. However, your Google account also opens the door to your online life by granting access to your Gmail inbox, a prime target for those looking to compromise login credentials and gain access to sensitive information. Unfortunately, there are many ways someone can gain access to your Google account, the power behind services like Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Maps. An attacker could be a cybercriminal or hacker, a friend, or even a family member, but with YouTube, it’s most likely the former. The reason for this is that an account with any number of followers that is respected for providing information on any topic to that audience is a valuable channel for spreading malware, phishing attacks, and cryptocurrency scams. All of this explains why it’s important to regain access to your hacked Google account as soon as possible. Some users have long complained that it is not as easy as it should be. That is about to change, at least when it comes to reclaiming YouTube channels.

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Introducing YouTube’s new AI-powered Hacked Channel Assistant

In an August 21 YouTube support post, TeamYouTube confirmed that it is rolling out a new troubleshooting tool to help users who have locked themselves out of an account they believe has been hacked. The AI-powered Hacked Channel Assistant is currently only available to English-speaking users, or rather those who access the YouTube Help Center in English, and even then, some of the troubleshooting features are only available to certain creators at this time. Eligible users will see the option to “Chat with our Hacked Channel Assistant” at the top of the YouTube account help page. “We’re working to make this available to all users in the future,” Google said.

“This tool will walk you through a series of questions about you and your channel to first secure your Google login,” Google said, “and to undo any changes the hacker made to your channel.”

Before using the new channel hacking helper, Google displays a dialog warning that the AI ​​is still in the learning phase and therefore could “show inaccurate or offensive results.” Users are also asked to agree to Google’s Terms of Service and Prohibited Use of Generative AI policy. It also states that human reviewers can “read, comment on, and process your conversations.” So it’s important to understand that while chatting with the help assistant, don’t type anything you want to hide from such reviewers.

Google recommends that users check for signs that their YouTube channel has been hacked before using the new helper bot. These include:

• Changes you didn’t make: Your profile picture, descriptions, email settings, AdSense for YouTube link, or messages you send are different.
• Videos uploaded by anyone other than you: Someone posted videos using your Google Account. You may receive email notifications about these videos if they result in sanctions or strikes for inappropriate content.

The Hacked Channel Assistant will then help you recover and secure your Google Account, undo any changes made to your YouTube channel, and reduce the risk of further account compromise in the future.

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