I'm really in a bind here because someone seems to be hacking my YouTube account. I only use YouTube on my Android phone, and despite changing my password twice and enabling 2-factor authentication, I still see bizarre videos pop up in my watch history that I haven't watched. I've removed all other devices except my phone. This situation is really unsettling for me. Has anyone dealt with something like this?
4 Answers
Make sure to check what devices are linked to your account through Google's security settings. If everything appears normal, a factory reset on your phone might help. Also, consider using a physical security key for added protection!
It seems odd that someone could still access your account if you've done all that stuff. You mentioned having 2FA and changing your password—are you sure no one has access to the email tied to your 2FA? Sometimes, that can be the loophole if someone is really determined.
No one else uses my phone, and my Gmail looks normal with no suspicious activity. It's really strange that they haven't reset my password either.
Just a thought, but it's easy to falsely attribute activity to someone else. If you’re worried about your privacy, consider taking a break from autoplay features on YouTube or even clearing your watch history as a precaution.
If possible, try accessing your account from a different device, change the password from there, and log out of your phone as well. Keep using just the other device for a while to see if the problem recurs. If it doesn’t, the issue might be with something on your phone.
I'll definitely try that. I've deleted a bunch of apps on my phone and ran scans with Google Play Protect and Malwarebytes, but found nothing unusual.
I've checked my devices frequently and never see any that shouldn't be there. My boyfriend thinks it could be a sim swap or a sketchy app getting access without needing my password.