How YouTube Creators Can Protect Their AdSense Accounts from Hackers

5 min readNov 7, 2023

“Passwords are like underwear. Don’t let people see it, change it very often, and you shouldn’t share it with strangers.” — Chris Pirillo

When it comes to protecting their business, we at GigaStar recognize YouTube Creators are entrepreneurs who have enough to worry about. However, if you’re a YouTube Creator, protecting your AdSense account is crucial to help ensure that your earnings are safe and your channel remains secure.

Here are some steps you can take to minimize risk and help protect your AdSense account from hackers:

Always Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Use 2FA, also known as multi-factor authentication (or MFA), to add an extra layer of security to your Google account, which includes AdSense. This typically involves receiving a verification code on your mobile device or email when you log in.

Our advice: Don’t use text or email 2FA unless those are the only options. Instead, use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator, Authy, Duo, etc.), or for maximum security, use a hardware security key (like YubiKey or NitroKey).

Practice Safe Password Creation and Storage

Create strong, complex passwords that are difficult for hackers to guess. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words.

Consider using a password manager (like LastPass) to generate and store long, strong, and unique passwords for each of your online accounts.

Regularly Update Passwords

To minimize the risk of unauthorized access, update, change, or rotate passwords every few months and never use the same password twice, anywhere. This includes your Google account password and any associated email accounts.

Be Wary of Phishing Attempts

Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading files from untrusted sources, as these can lead to phishing attempts.

Verify the authenticity of emails or messages claiming to be from AdSense or Google by checking their sender email addresses and URLs. Avoid clicking on suspicious links.

Keep Your Devices Secure

Ensure that the devices you use to access your AdSense account are secure. Use up-to-date antivirus software and keep your operating system and software patched with the latest security updates.

Monitor Account Activity

Regularly review your AdSense account activity for any suspicious or unauthorized transactions. Google provides activity logs and alerts that can help you track this.

Use a Secure Network

Avoid logging into your AdSense account from public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. Use a VPN or secure network when accessing sensitive accounts.

Secure Your Email Account

Since your email is often tied to your AdSense account, make sure it is well-protected. Enable 2FA for your email account as well.

Educate Yourself and Your Team

If you have a team working on your channel, educate them about online security practices and the importance of protecting account access.

Regularly Backup Your Content

Back up your YouTube videos and other important content to ensure you don’t lose it in case of a security breach.

Contact Support Immediately

If you suspect that your AdSense account has been compromised or if you notice any suspicious activity, contact Google’s support team immediately.

Remember that maintaining the security of your AdSense account is an ongoing process. Stay vigilant, keep your software up to date, and follow best practices to minimize the risk of hacking and unauthorized access.

Interested in more tools for YouTube Creators?

GigaStar for YouTube Channel Growth

At GigaStar, we’re fueling human creativity and bringing YouTube Creators and Fans together as partners. This is something that we’re incredibly passionate about.

Join our journey as we pursue a mission of fueling human creativity.

Learn more at https://gigastar.io/ and connect with us on social media.

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