“Cybercriminals target YouTube, online influencers, and other popular platforms to exploit the trust content owners have built, gaining access to millions of followers to expand the reach of their malware and scam campaigns. A single breach could erase years of content and established reputation”

In the 2024 Consumer Cybersecurity Assessment Report, based on an independent global survey of over 7,000 consumers, nearly a quarter (24.3%) experienced a security incident over the last 12 months with 44% of those incidents relating to fraud and 42% phishing attempts. In addition, there are now over 64 million content creators on YouTube alone according to Social Blade analytics.

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Attacks on content creators and online influencers have surged alongside the growing accessibility of deepfake technologies, posing a significant threat to their livelihood and hard work they have invested. Cybercriminals are drawn to user accounts with established followings and trust, using them to amplify the reach and impact of malicious campaigns. Bitdefender researchers found that a hijacked account had amassed over 3.8 billion views, while several compromised channels had millions of fans, emphasizing urgency of the threat.

Cybercriminals hack accounts leveraging poor security practices and/or malware delivered via phishing, text messaging or other means. Once compromised, they move quickly to take full control changing passwords (locking out account owners), modifying content and associated webpages, and re-directing follower attention to unknowingly participate in scams or clicking malicious links to spread malware. Regaining control of a compromised account is challenging, and by then, considerable damage may have already occurred.

Bitdefender Security for Creators safeguards content channels and social media accounts from takeovers and supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Set-up takes a few moments and connects to both content channel and owner. Once activated, Bitdefender continuously monitors for anomalous behaviors on channels and scans owner devices (computers, tablets, mobile) for phishing emails, malicious URLs, files, and malware sending alerts in real-time.

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Key Features and Benefits

• 24/7 YouTube Account Monitoring and Protection – Bitdefender Security for Creators monitors YouTube accounts for unusual behavior such as mass deletion of videos, alterations to account name, profile changes, channel description modifications and other indications of account take over. Alerts are sent to the channel owner as soon as an incident is detected.

• Advanced Hacking Prevention – Bitdefender Security for Creators protects content owners from threats such as zero-days, spyware, ransomware, malicious links, infostealer malware and other threats specifically targeting user login credentials and sensitive data that would give cybercriminals an easy path for account takeover. Protection extends across desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.

• Powerful Anti-Phishing Protection – Sending fraudulent emails and texts to content owners and influencers with promise of lucrative partnerships or attractive sponsorship opportunities is a key cybercriminal tactic and becoming harder to catch with the naked eye because of Large Language Model (LLM) AI. Bitdefender Security for Creators employs AI-driven anti-phishing technology that automatically flags phishing, smishing, and scam attempts based on language context.

• Team Plan Option – Bitdefender Security for Creators is perfect for expanding channels with both internal and external collaborators. It extends robust security features to your entire team, including video editors, graphic designers, and members with access to your accounts. This helps ensure everyone involved in the content creation process is fully protected.

• Account Recovery Assistance – In the event of an account takeover, Bitdefender Security for Creators offers a step-by-step guide to quick recovery that includes removing the malicious actor and regaining access to the account.

“Cybercriminals target YouTube, online influencers, and other popular platforms to exploit the trust content owners have built, gaining access to millions of followers to expand the reach of their malware and scam campaigns. A single breach could erase years of content and established reputation,” said Ciprian Istrate, senior vice president of operations, Consumer Solutions Group at Bitdefender. “Bitdefender Security for Creators is the first comprehensive security solution that guards content, online channels, and owner integrity around-the-clock.”