The preferred technology-related YouTube channel, Linus Tech Suggestions, has been hacked to advertise a cryptocurrency giveaway rip-off with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The channel, which has over 15 million subscribers, was streaming two stay “BTC” rip-off movies, based on cybersecurity agency SOS Intelligence.
Scammers usually hack YouTube channels to point out stay streams with faux celebrities like Elon Musk, asking viewers to ship cryptocurrency in change for an opportunity to win an even bigger prize.
Such a rip-off has change into more and more prevalent within the crypto neighborhood, with scammers leveraging the recognition of high-profile figures to trick viewers into sending them cash.
Linus Tech Suggestions was based by Canadian vlogger Linus Sebastian in 2008 and contains know-how evaluations, tutorials and information.
The channel has constructed a loyal following through the years and has been a go-to supply for a lot of tech fanatics seeking to study bleeding-edge tech merchandise.
Upon discovering the hack, Linus Tech Suggestions instantly addressed the incident, stating that they’re “on high of it” with the Google group and are hoping to “harden their safety round YouTube accounts and forestall this form of factor from taking place to anybody sooner or later.”
The incident highlights the significance of on-line safety, notably within the crypto house, the place hackers are at all times on the lookout for new methods to use vulnerabilities.