I messed up big time. I thought I got a legit sponsorship offer for a game. Turns out it was a scam. I opened their file and boom my browser crashed. Next thing I know my Google account is getting hijacked. The hacker changed my password added a new phone number and even set up some USB key thing.
I’m freaking out. My channel has 22k subs and I can’t get into it or my Gmail. I’ve tried reaching out to YouTube and Google on Twitter but no luck yet. I’m scared the hacker might use my account to scam my viewers or other creators.
What should I do now? How can I get my account back? Any advice on protecting myself and others from this kind of attack in the future would be super helpful. Thanks!
Man, that’s a nightmare scenario. I’ve been through something similar and it’s gut-wrenching. First off, don’t panic - there’s hope.
Here’s what worked for me: Skip Twitter and go straight to Google Support. They have a dedicated account recovery process that’s your best bet. Be prepared to prove your identity - old passwords, creation date, etc. It’s a pain, but it works.
Once you’re back in, lock that account down tight. Change every password, enable 2FA (use an authenticator app, not SMS), and review all your linked accounts.
For the future, be super skeptical of any ‘deals’ that land in your inbox. Always verify through official channels. And never, ever open files from unknown sources without scanning them first.
Hang in there. It’s a rough situation, but you can recover from this. Keep pushing and don’t give up!
dude that sucks so bad!! i had something similar happen last yr. definitely contact google support asap - they helped me get my acct back. make sure u change ALL ur passwords after & turn on that 2-factor authentication thing. stay strong man, hope u get ur channel back soon!!