Hacked: After printers, PewDiePie fans now hack Google Chromecast

NOTE: For all latest, breaking news related to PewDiePie, other YouTubers, and YouTube in general, head here.

Update (January 03):

Chromecast hacker (@HackerGiraffe) says he is getting “panic attacks” after being told the FBI is building a case against him. He also revealed has been getting death threats for quite sometime now, with some messages even detailing how they will kill him and his family. Complete story here

Update (January 03):

Citing policy violations, YouTube has taken down video that played on TVs through hacked Chromecast. Complete story here.

Updates (January 02):

-> ANOTHER HACK: PewDiePie’s hacker fans are now hacking Chromecasts, Google Homes, and Smart TVs as we speak. Catch the complete story here.

-> @HackerGiraffe has clarified that the current Chromecast hack is by Twitter user @friendlyh4xx0r.

https://twitter.com/HackerGiraffe/status/1080383436660113409

Original story follows:

They are on it again. Yes, after hacking thousands of printers worldwide (not once, but twice), PewDiePie’s hacker fans have now managed to hack Google’s Chromecast streaming dongles. The motive behind the hack, no points for guessing, is to gather support for the Swedish Youtuber.

The hack displays a PSA on TVs, making viewers aware of the ongoing PewDiePie vs T-Series subscriber war on YouTube, and urging them to subscribe to PewDiePie. The hackers also make sure they share instructions on how to protect your TV.

https://twitter.com/ikkonX/status/1080125355053236225
https://twitter.com/simK_be/status/1080121513389506560
https://twitter.com/AneroDaniel/status/1080141409439662080
https://twitter.com/JaysonGrayless/status/1080039894385344513
https://twitter.com/JoshPescatore/status/1079961319078535168
https://twitter.com/nursemorrigan/status/1080039510879100929

The hack was carried out by the same hacker (@HackerGiraffe) who hacked printers worldwide to print fliers urging support for PewDiePie, YouTube’s most subscribed channel (it recently came to light that printer companies have started taking notice of printer vulnerabilities brought to light by these hacks).

https://twitter.com/HackerGiraffe/status/1080085892902125568

If you have been the victim of this attack, users are sharing steps that you need to take. One such tweet was retweeted by the hacker himself:

Regardless, many Chromecast users have approached Google to ask what steps they should take in order to prevent their Chromecast from being hacked again.

https://twitter.com/tatere/status/1080158661194838016
https://twitter.com/alex_utrecht/status/1080270412083281925

For its part, Google is asking for private discussion on the topic, at least if you are asking for help on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Alie79/status/1080245443299364865
https://twitter.com/madebygoogle/status/1080256482619224065

However, on Reddit, Chromecast team members are getting in touch with those affected, asking them to provide more information so that they can look into the matter deeper.

We’re monitoring the entire situation, and will update this story as and when we find more news worthy stuff related the matter. Until then, share your thoughts about these pro PewDiePie hacks in the comments section below.

Also read: How a section of PewDiePie fans are threatening journalists with death and rape for their negative coverage of the YouTuber.

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