Video and music platform YouTube has launched a new AI-powered support tool to help users whose accounts have been hacked.
The Hacked Channel Assistant, available in the YouTube Help Center, is a feature that will allow “eligible creators” to regain control of their accounts after a cyberattack.
This help chatbot is in its first phase and is only available in English and for a select group of creators. But the company has expressed its intention to expand this tool to all users in the near future.
How it works
The process the wizard follows is designed to be intuitive and accessible, even for those who don’t have deep technical knowledge. Once a creator detects that their account has been compromised, they can access the YouTube Help Center and look for the option to troubleshoot issues related to a hacked channel.
The wizard will then begin with a series of questions aimed at understanding the user’s specific situation. These questions are critical to personalizing the recovery process, as they allow the system to identify the exact actions the hacker has performed on the account and determine the best strategies to reverse those changes.
- Sign-in security: The first step the wizard takes is to secure the user’s Google login. This involves verifying that the creator has control over their Google account and, if necessary, making changes to the password or security settings.
- Reversing malicious changes: Once the login is secured, the wizard proceeds to identify and undo any changes the hacker made to the channel. This can include anything from deleting videos, modifying channel descriptions, to reconfiguring access permissions.
- Strengthening security: Finally, the wizard offers additional recommendations and tools to strengthen the channel’s security. This may include enabling two-factor authentication, reviewing devices and apps that have access to the account, and suggesting digital security practices the creator should follow to protect themselves in the future.
For creators who can’t access the assistant for now, the video app still offers more traditional support channels. For example, users can contact YouTube’s support team via X, using the @TeamYouTube account. This provides an alternative option for those who need urgent assistance or who don’t meet the requirements to use the new support tool.
With information from Infobae
