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In Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Drumhead,” a Starfleet officer’s suspected espionage sparks an overzealous investigation that turns into a witch hunt, driven by paranoia. Captain Picard’s warning about the dangers of overreaction—“With the first link, the chain is forged…”—underscores the importance of caution when assigning blame. This is highly relevant to the hacking of Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube channel, where suspicions point to Chinese hackers. Although China has a history of cyberattacks on Indian systems like AIIMS and Mumbai’s power grid, allegations should be supported by evidence. Ranveer’s pro-India stance and association with controversial figures could have made him a target, highlighting India’s vulnerability to digital espionage.
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Ranveer Allahbadia’s rapid success stems from his ability to engage with influential figures across industries. His YouTube channel has featured business leaders, actors, and political commentators, including Palki Sharma, a former WION anchor known for her strong stance against China. Sharma’s show *Gravitas* explored China-India geopolitics, and her nationalist appeal made her a target of Chinese censorship. Ranveer’s association with her likely caught the attention of Chinese cyber operatives. Given Sharma’s outspoken criticism of China, especially on issues like border disputes, the Belt and Road Initiative, and censorship, Chinese hackers may have targeted Ranveer’s platform. With rising India-China tensions, the digital landscape has become a battleground for cyberattacks, making Ranveer a potential target.
Phishing: The Likely Attack Vector
The method of hacking likely employed against Ranveer could have been a classic phishing attack, where malicious actors deceive the victim into clicking on a fake link or providing login credentials under the guise of legitimate communication. Phishing has become a widespread tactic in cyberattacks, particularly those targeting public figures and media personalities. Given Ranveer’s massive following and collaboration with various brands, he may have received numerous emails and links for sponsorships, media opportunities, or partnerships, one of which could have been a phishing attempt.
Phishing attacks are particularly effective because they often bypass traditional security systems and prey on human error. A seemingly innocuous link could lead to a compromised website designed to steal login credentials. Once inside the YouTube account, hackers would have full access to the channel’s content, subscriber list, and backend operations, making it easy to delete videos or even hold the channel for ransom.
The Role of TikTok and Keylogging
A possible factor contributing to Ranveer Allahbadia’s hack could be the inadvertent use of TikTok or similar apps, notorious for their data-collection practices. India banned TikTok in 2020 due to national security concerns after it was found to excessively collect user data, including logging keystrokes, tracking activities, and transmitting this information to Chinese servers. If Ranveer unknowingly used a banned or unregulated app with these capabilities, his YouTube credentials could have been compromised. As I mentioned in my OpIndia article, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has close ties to the Chinese government, heightening concerns about data being used for cyber espionage. Even brief use of such apps could have left Ranveer’s account vulnerable to hacking.
Chinese Cyber Warfare and the Attack on Indian Digital Influencers
China has intensified its cyber warfare, targeting countries like India, which challenge its geopolitical ambitions. As India’s global influence grows, Chinese hackers have increasingly focused on figures shaping public opinion, particularly those with nationalist views. Ranveer Allahbadia, whose platform promotes Indian identity and success while criticizing external influences like China, has become a potential target. In the context of India-China tensions, digital influencers like Ranveer are seen as threats to China’s image in India. By attacking such figures, China seeks to undermine their influence and disrupt messages challenging its narrative.
Conclusion
Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube hacking is part of a broader pattern of cyberattacks on Indian figures who criticize China and support India’s sovereignty. While the exact method remains unclear, phishing or data exploitation via third-party apps like TikTok is likely. His collaboration with banned personalities like Palki Sharma strengthens the theory of Chinese involvement. As India’s digital influence grows, especially through platforms like YouTube, safeguarding influencers like Ranveer from cyber threats is essential to protect India’s digital sovereignty and the voices shaping public opinion.
“To boldly go where no man has gone before!” — Star Trek…
Author’s bio: Akshay Sharma is a former Gartner analyst, ex-smartphone CTO, VSMP CTO with clients like the World Bank, Chief Technology Evangelist for an AI/ML firm with major US and Indian Government agencies as clients, and a published author on geopolitical topics. He was instrumental in the successful campaign to ban China’s Huawei from Western democracies, a feat that garnered him a mention in the Wall Street Journal in 2012. His views are personal.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.