Account Takeover Attacks on Social Media: Emerging Threats and Defences for Creators
Introduction
Over the past few years, the virtual space has been an irreplaceable livelihood platform for content creators and influencers, particularly on major social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Yet, if this growth in digital entrepreneurship is accompanied by anything, it is a worrying trend, a steep surge in account takeover (ATO) attacks against these actors. In recent years, cybercriminals have stepped up the quantity and level of sophistication of such attacks, hacking into accounts, jeopardising the follower base, and incurring economic and reputational damage. They don’t just take over accounts to cause disruption. Instead, they use these hijacked accounts to run scams like fake livestreams and cryptocurrency fraud, spreading them by pretending to be the original account owner. This type of cybercrime is no longer a nuisance; it now poses a serious threat to the creator economy, digital trust, and the wider social media ecosystem.
Why Are Content Creators Prime Targets?
Content creators hold a special place on the web. They are prominent users who live for visibility, public confidence, and ongoing interaction with their followers. Their social media footprint tends to extend across several interrelated platforms, e.g., YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), with many of these accounts having similar login credentials or being managed from the same email accounts. This interconnectivity of their online presence crosses multiple platforms and benefits workflow, but makes them appealing targets for hackers. One entry point can give access to a whole chain of vulnerabilities. Attackers, once they control an account, can wield its influence and reach to share scams, lead followers to phishing sites, or spread malware, all from the cover of a trusted name.
Popular Tactics Used by Attackers
- Malicious Livestream Takeovers and Rebranding - Cybercriminals hijack high-subscriber channels and rebrand them to mimic official channels. Original videos are hidden or deleted, replaced with scammy streams using deep fake personas to promote crypto schemes.
- Fake Sponsorship Offers - Creators receive emails from supposed sponsors that contain malware-infected attachments or malicious download links, leading to credential theft.
- Malvertising Campaigns - These involve fake ads on social platforms promoting exclusive software like AI tools or unreleased games. Victims download malware that searches for stored login credentials.
- Phishing and Social Engineering on Instagram - Hackers impersonate Meta support teams via DMs and emails. They direct creators to login pages that are cloned versions of Instagram's site. Others pose as fans to request phone numbers and trick victims into revealing password reset codes.
- Timely Exploits and Event Hijacking - During major public or official events, attackers often escalate their activity. Hijacked accounts are used to promote fake giveaways or exclusive live streams, luring users to malicious websites designed to steal personal information or financial data.
Real-World Impact and Case Examples
The reach and potency of account takeover attacks upon content creators are far-reaching and profound. In a report presented in 2024 by Bitdefender, over 9,000 malicious live streams were seen on YouTube during a year, with many having been streamed from hijacked creator accounts and reassigned to advertise scams and fake content. Perhaps the most high-profile incident was a channel with more than 28 million subscribers and 12.4 billion total views, which was totally taken over and utilised for a crypto fraud scheme live streaming. Additionally, Bitdefender research indicated that over 350 scam domains were utilised by cybercriminals, directly connected via hijacked social media accounts, to entice followers into phishing scams and bogus investment opportunities. Many of these pieces of content included AI-created deep fakes impersonating recognisable personalities like Elon Musk and other public figures, providing the illusion of authenticity around fake endorsements (CCN, 2024). Further, attackers have exploited popular digital events such as esports events, such as Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), by hijacking YouTube gaming channels and livestreaming false giveaways or referring viewers to imitated betting sites.
Protective Measures for Creators
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Adds an essential layer of defence. Even if a password is compromised, attackers can't log in without the second factor. Prefer app-based or hardware token authentication.
- Scrutinize Sponsorships
Verify sender domains and avoid opening suspicious attachments. Use sandbox environments to test files. In case of doubt, verify collaboration opportunities through official company sources or verified contacts.
- Monitor Account Activity
Keep tabs on login history, new uploads, and connected apps. Configure alerts for suspicious login attempts or spikes in activity to detect breaches early. Configure alerts for suspicious login attempts or spikes in activity to detect breaches early.
- Educate Your Team
If your account is managed by editors or third parties, train them on common phishing and malware tactics. Employ regular refresher sessions and send mock phishing tests to reinforce awareness.
- Use Purpose-Built Security Tools
Specialised security solutions offer features like account monitoring, scam detection, guided recovery, and protection for team members. These tools can also help identify suspicious activity early and support a quick response to potential threats.
Conclusion
Account takeover attacks are no longer random events, they're systemic risks that compromise the financial well-being and personal safety of creators all over the world. As cybercriminals grow increasingly sophisticated and realistic in their scams, the only solution is a security-first approach. This encompasses a mix of technical controls, platform-level collaboration, education, and investment in creator-centric cybersecurity technologies. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, creators not only need to think about content but also about defending their digital identity. As digital platforms continue to grow, so do the threats targeting creators. However, with the right awareness, tools, and safeguards in place, a secure and thriving digital environment for creators is entirely achievable.
References
- https://www.bitdefender.com/en-au/blog/hotforsecurity/account-takeover-attacks-on-social-media-a-rising-threat-for-content-creators-and-influencers
- https://www.arkoselabs.com/account-takeover/social-media-account-takeover/
- https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/account-takeover-ato/
- https://www.security.org/digital-safety/account-takeover-annual-report/
- https://www.niceactimize.com/glossary/account-takeover/
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
A video has gone viral that claims to show Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah stating that the BJP-Led Central Government intends to end quotas for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), and other backward classes (OBCs). On further investigation, it turns out this claim is false as we found the original clip from an official source, while he delivered the speech at Telangana, Shah talked about falsehoods about religion-based reservations, with specific reference to Muslim reservations. It is a digitally altered video and thus the claim is false.
Claims:
The video which allegedly claims that the Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah will be terminating the reservation quota systems of scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBCs) if BJP government was formed again has been viral on social media platforms.
English Translation: If the BJP government is formed again we will cancel ST, SC reservations: Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah
Fact Check:
When the video was received we closely observed the name of the news media channel, and it was V6 News. We divided the video into keyframes and reverse searched the images. For one of the keyframes of the video, we found a similar video with the caption “Union Minister Amit Shah Comments Muslim Reservations | V6 Weekend Teenmaar” uploaded by the V6 News Telugu’s verified Youtube channel on April 23, 2023. Taking a cue from this, we also did some keyword searches to find any relevant sources. In the video at the timestamp of 2:38, Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah talks about religion-based reservations calling ‘unconstitutional Muslim Reservation’ and that the Government will remove it.
Further, he talks about the SC, ST, and OBC reservations having full rights for quota but not the Muslim reservation.
While doing the reverse image, we found many other videos uploaded by other media outlets like ANI, Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, etc about ending Muslim reservations from Telangana state, but we found no such evidence that supports the viral claim of removing SC, ST, OBC quota system. After further analysis for any sign of alteration, we found that the viral video was edited while the original information is different. Hence, it’s misleading and false.
Conclusion:
The video featuring the Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah announcing that they will remove the reservation quota system of SC, ST and OBC if the new BJP government is formed again in the ongoing Lok sabha election, is debunked. After careful analysis, it was found that the video was fake and was created to misrepresent the actual statement of Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah. The original footage surfaced on the V6 News Telugu YouTube channel, in which Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah was explaining about religion-based reservations, particularly Muslim reservations in Telangana. Unfortunately, the fake video was false and Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah did not mention the end of SC, ST, and OBC reservations.
- Claim: The viral video covers the assertion of Hon'ble Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah that the BJP government will soon remove reservation quotas for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), and other backward classes (OBCs).
- Claimed on: X (formerly known as Twitter)
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
Executive Summary:
A circulating picture which is said to be of United States President Joe Biden wearing military uniform during a meeting with military officials has been found out to be AI-generated. This viral image however falsely claims to show President Biden authorizing US military action in the Middle East. The Cyberpeace Research Team has identified that the photo is generated by generative AI and not real. Multiple visual discrepancies in the picture mark it as a product of AI.
Claims:
A viral image claiming to be US President Joe Biden wearing a military outfit during a meeting with military officials has been created using artificial intelligence. This picture is being shared on social media with the false claim that it is of President Biden convening to authorize the use of the US military in the Middle East.
Similar Post:
Fact Check:
CyberPeace Research Team discovered that the photo of US President Joe Biden in a military uniform at a meeting with military officials was made using generative-AI and is not authentic. There are some obvious visual differences that plainly suggest this is an AI-generated shot.
Firstly, the eyes of US President Joe Biden are full black, secondly the military officials face is blended, thirdly the phone is standing without any support.
We then put the image in Image AI Detection tool
The tool predicted 4% human and 96% AI, Which tells that it’s a deep fake content.
Let’s do it with another tool named Hive Detector.
Hive Detector predicted to be as 100% AI Detected, Which likely to be a Deep Fake Content.
Conclusion:
Thus, the growth of AI-produced content is a challenge in determining fact from fiction, particularly in the sphere of social media. In the case of the fake photo supposedly showing President Joe Biden, the need for critical thinking and verification of information online is emphasized. With technology constantly evolving, it is of great importance that people be watchful and use verified sources to fight the spread of disinformation. Furthermore, initiatives to make people aware of the existence and impact of AI-produced content should be undertaken in order to promote a more aware and digitally literate society.
- Claim: A circulating picture which is said to be of United States President Joe Biden wearing military uniform during a meeting with military officials
- Claimed on: X
- Fact Check: Fake
Executive Summary:
A viral online image claims to show Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, welcoming Elon Musk during his visit to India to discuss Delhi’s administrative policies. However, the CyberPeace Research Team has confirmed that the image is a deep fake, created using AI technology. The assertion that Elon Musk visited India to discuss Delhi’s administrative policies is false and misleading.
Claim
A viral image claims that Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Elon Musk during his visit to India to discuss Delhi’s administrative policies.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the viral posts, we conducted a reverse image search using InVid Reverse Image searching tool. The search traced the image back to different unrelated sources featuring both Arvind Kejriwal and Elon Musk, but none of the sources depicted them together or involved any such event. The viral image displayed visible inconsistencies, such as lighting disparities and unnatural blending, which prompted further investigation.
Using advanced AI detection tools like TrueMedia.org and Hive AI Detection tool, we analyzed the image. The analysis confirmed with 97.5% confidence that the image was a deepfake. The tools identified “substantial evidence of manipulation,” particularly in the merging of facial features and the alignment of clothes and background, which were artificially generated.
Moreover, a review of official statements and credible reports revealed no record of Elon Musk visiting India to discuss Delhi’s administrative policies. Neither Arvind Kejriwal’s office nor Tesla or SpaceX made any announcement regarding such an event, further debunking the viral claim.
Conclusion:
The viral image claiming that Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Elon Musk during his visit to India to discuss Delhi’s administrative policies is a deep fake. Tools like Reverse Image search and AI detection confirm the image’s manipulation through AI technology. Additionally, there is no supporting evidence from any credible sources. The CyberPeace Research Team confirms the claim is false and misleading.
- Claim: Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Elon Musk to India to discuss Delhi’s administrative policies, viral on social media.
- Claimed on: Facebook and X(Formerly Twitter)
- Fact Check: False & Misleading
