#FactCheck - "Viral Video Falsely Claimed as Evidence of Attacks in Bangladesh is False & Misleading”

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/

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‍Introduction 

The enactment of the Online Gaming (Promotion and Regulation) Act, 2025 has a significant impact, resulting in considerable changes to the structure of the Indian gaming industry. The ban on Real-Money Games (RMG), including fantasy sports, rummy, and poker, aims to curb addiction, illegal betting and most importantly, financial exploitation.

However, this decision sent ripples throughout the industry, resulting in players, companies and their investors re-strategising their plans to move forward. This approach, however, is a sharp contrast to how other nations, including the UK, Singapore and others, regulate online gaming. This, as a result, has also raised doubts about the ban and calls into question whether this is the right move.

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Industry in Flux - The resultant Fallout

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• MPL’s Layoffs: The Mobile Premiere League has so far laid off nearly 60 per cent of its workforce, with the CEO of the company openly admitting that the company is no longer able to make money in India.
• Dream11’s Lost Revenue: Having seen a position of being a market leader, the company has now witnessed its 95 per cent revenue wiped out, resulting in raised alarms among investors.
• A23’s Legal Move: The company chose to move the Karnataka High Court under the argument that the ban also ends up unfairly criminalising skill-based games that were earlier classified differently from gambling by the courts.

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The new face of eSports: With RMGs outlawed, the focus is now on esports, including casual mobile gaming, console/PC gaming, and creating new opportunities and also leaving a void for RMG revenue companies.

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Regulations Around the World - & India

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India has adopted a prohibition model, whereas many other countries have developed regulatory frameworks that allow sectoral expansion under monitoring.

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United Kingdom:

• Online gaming is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
• RMGs are legal but subject to strict licensing, age verification and advertising rules.
• Self-exclusion schemes are a must, offered by operators along with tools to prevent gambling addictions.

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United States

• State-driven regulations that vary from state to state.
• States including Nevada and New Jersey allow casinos both online and offline, while other states prohibit them completely.
• Regulation for skill-based fantasy games is fragmented but generally legal.

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China

• Great focus on controlling and restricting gaming addictions among minors.
• Time limits are enforced for players under 18 (usually as little as 3 hours per week).
• Gambling has been deemed illegal; however, esports and casual gaming operate within China’s regulated gaming ecosystem, subject to certain compliance.

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Singapore

• The Remote Gambling Act regulates chance-based games, while other eSports and skill-based games operate out of its jurisdiction and are regulated separately.
• Online gambling isn't completely banned, but is operated under restrictions.
• Only Licensed operators under strict controls are allowed by the government to operate to avoid and prevent black-market alternatives.

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Australia

• Regulates under the Interactive Gambling Act.
• Sports betting and certain licensed operators are allowed, while most of the other online gambling services are prohibited.
• Restrictions on advertising and real-time interventions allow emphasis on harm minimisation.

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India’s Approach  - Comparison

The Online Gaming (Promotion and Regulation) Act, 2025 introduces a prohibition model for real money games. This differs from jurisdictions such as the UK and US, which have implemented regulatory frameworks to oversee the sector. In India, earlier legal interpretations distinguished between games of skill and games of chance. The new legislation provides a single treatment for both categories, which marks a departure from previous judicial pronouncements. 

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Conclusion

At present, India’s gaming sector is navigating layoffs, court cases, and a pivot towards esports post the RMG ban. Keeping in mind that the intent of said ban is the protection of citizens, the industry also argues that regulation, instead of prohibition, offers a sustainable approach to the issues. On the other hand, on the global scale, most nations prefer controlled and licensed models that ensure consumer safety and work on preserving both jobs and revenues. However, India’s step is diverging from such a model. The lack of safeguards and engagement in the real money gaming industry led to a prohibition model, underscoring that in sensitive digital sectors, early regulatory alignment is essential.

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References

• India online gaming ban: Global rules & regulation bill 2025
• Level up or game over? Decoding India’s gaming industry post RMG ban
• MPL lays off 350 employees after GST rules, RMG crackdown
• India’s Dream11 hit by online gaming ban, revenue slumps
• Online gaming ban: A23 moves Karnataka HC against government decision
• UK Gambling Commission – Licensing and Regulations
• Fantasy Sports & Gambling Law – State by State
• China’s gaming restrictions for minors
• Singapore Remote Gambling Act – Ministry of Home Affairs
• Australian Communications and Media Authority – Interactive Gambling Act
  
  

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Introduction

Robotic or Robo dogs are created to resemble dogs in conduct and appearance, usually comprising canine features including barking and wagging tails. Some examples include Rhex (hexapod robot), Littledog and BigDog (created by Boston Dynamics robot). Robodogs, on the whole, can even respond to commands and look at a person with large LED-lit puppy eyes. 

A four-legged robotic solution was recently concluded through its foremost successful radiation protection test inside the most extensive experimental area at the European Organization for Nuclear Research known as CERN. Each robot created at CERN is carefully crafted to fulfil exceptional challenges and complement each other. Unlike the previous wheeled, tracked or monorail robots, the robodogs will be capable of penetrating unexplored dimensions of the caverns, expanding the spectrum of surroundings that CERN robots can act as a guide. Also, Incorporating the robodog with the existing monorail robots in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) tunnel will expand the range of places available for monitoring and supervision, improving the security and efficiency of the operation of CERN. Lenovo too has designed a six-legged robot called the "Daystar Bot GS" to be launched this year, which promises "comprehensive data collection." 

Use of Robodogs in diverse domains

Due to the enhancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robodogs can be a boon for those with exceptional requirements.  The advantage of AI is the dependability of its features, which can be programmed to answer certain commands detailed to the user. 

In the context of health and well-being, they can be useful if they are programmed to take care of a person with distinct or special requirements (elderly person or visually impaired person). For this reason, they are considered more advantageous than the real dogs. Recently, New Stanford has designed robodogs that can perform several physical activities, including dancing and may also one day assist in putting pediatric patients in comfort during their hospital stays.  Similarly, the robodog, "Pupper", is a revamped version of another robotic dog designed at Stanford called "Doggo", an open-source bot with 3D printed elements that one could create on a fairly small budget. They were also created to interact with humans. Furthermore, Robots as friends are a more comfortable hop for the Japanese. The oldest and most successful social robot in Japan is called "Paro", resembling an ordinary plush toy that can help in treating depression, stress, anxiety and also mood swings in a person. Following 1998, several Paro robots were exported overseas and put into service globally, reducing stress among children in ICUs, treating American veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and assisting dementia patients. 

Post-pandemic, the Japanese experiencing loneliness and isolation have been clinging to social robots for mind healing and comfort.  Likewise, at a cafe in Japan, proud owners of the AI-driven robot dog "Aibo" have pawed its course into the minds and hearts of the people. Presently, robots are replacing the conventional class guinea pig or bunny at Moriyama Kindergarten in the central Japanese city of Nagoya. According to the teachers here, the bots apparently reduce stress and teach kids to be more humane. 

In the security and defence domain, the unique skills of robodogs allow them to be used in hazardous and challenging circumstances. They can even navigate through rugged topography with reassurance to save stranded individuals from natural catastrophes. They could correspondingly help with search and rescue procedures, surveillance, and other circumstances that could be dangerous for humans. Researchers or experts are still fine-tuning the algorithm to develop them by devising the technology and employing affordable off-shelf robots that are already functional. Robodogs are further used for providing surveillance in hostage crises, defusing bombs, besides killing people to stop them from attacking other individuals. Similarly, a breakthrough in AI is being tested by the Australian military that reportedly allows soldiers to control robodogs solely with their minds. Cities like Florida and St. Petersburg also seem bound to keep police robodogs. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is further seeking plans to deploy robot dogs at the borderlands. Also, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) intends to once again deploy four-legged 'Robodogs' to deal with high-risk circumstances like hostage negotiations. The NYPD has previously employed alike robodogs for high-octane duties in examining unsafe environments where human officers should not be exposed. The U.S. Marine Corps is additionally experimenting with a new breed of robotic canine that can be helpful in the battleground, enhance the safety and mobility of soldiers, and aid in other tasks. The Unitree Go1 robot dog (Nicknamed GOAT-Grounded Open-Air Transport) by the Marines is a four-legged machine that has a built-in AI system, which can be equipped to carry an infantry anti-armour rocket launcher on its back. The GOAT robot dog is designed to help the Marines move hefty loads, analyse topography, and deliver fire support in distant and dangerous places.

However, on the contrary, robodogs may pose ethical and moral predicaments regarding who is accountable for their actions and how to ensure their adherence to the laws of warfare. This may further increase security and privacy situations on how to safeguard the data of the robotic dogs and contain hacking or sabotage.

Conclusion

Teaching robots to traverse the world conventionally has been an extravagant challenge. Though the world has been seeing an increase in their manufacturing, it is simply a machine and can never replace the feeling of owning a real dog.  Designers state that intelligent social robots will never replace humans, though robots provide the assurance of social harmony without social contact. Also, they may not be capable of managing complicated or unforeseen circumstances that need instinct or human decision-making. Nevertheless, owning robodogs in the coming decades is expected to become even more common and cost-effective as they evolve or advance with new algorithms being tested and implemented. 

References:

• https://home.cern/news/news/engineering/introducing-cerns-robodog
• https://news.stanford.edu/2023/10/04/ai-approach-yields-athletically-intelligent-robotic-dog/
• https://nypost.com/2023/02/17/combat-ai-robodogs-follow-telepathic-commands-from-soldiers/
• https://www.popsci.com/technology/parkour-algorithm-robodog/
• https://ggba.swiss/en/cern-unveils-its-innovative-robodog-for-radiation-detection/
• https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/12/10/san-francisco-killer-robots-policing-debate
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robo-dogs-therapy-bots-artificial-intelligence/
• https://news.stanford.edu/report/2023/08/01/robo-dogs-unleash-fun-joy-stanford-hospital/
• https://www.pcmag.com/news/lenovo-creates-six-legged-daystar-gs-robot
• https://www.foxnews.com/tech/new-breed-military-ai-robo-dogs-could-marines-secret-weapon
• https://www.wptv.com/news/national/new-york-police-will-use-four-legged-robodogs-again
• https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/us-news/creepy-robodogs-controlled-soldiers-minds-29638615
• https://www.newarab.com/news/robodogs-part-israels-army-robots-gaza-war
• https://us.aibo.com/

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