The official YouTube channel for Dota 2, the popular multiplayer online battle arena game developed by Valve Corporation, fell victim to a sophisticated security breach on Thursday. Cybercriminals temporarily gained control of the channel’s broadcasting capabilities to promote a Solana-based memecoin in what appears to be a coordinated pump-and-dump scheme.
During the security incident, the hackers replaced the channel’s regular content with unauthorized streams promoting the cryptocurrency token. The breach lasted for approximately two hours before Valve’s security team regained control and restored normal operations. The channel, which boasts millions of subscribers, typically features professional Dota 2 tournaments, gameplay tutorials, and official game updates.
This incident marks another significant security breach targeting major gaming platforms to promote cryptocurrency schemes. Security analysts note that such attacks leverage the massive follower bases of established gaming channels to create artificial hype around digital assets. The perpetrators typically abandon these projects after initial price surges, leaving investors with substantial losses.
Valve Corporation has initiated a comprehensive security review of its social media assets following the breach. The company has advised viewers to disregard any cryptocurrency promotions that appeared during the unauthorized broadcast period. Industry experts recommend that content creators implement multi-factor authentication and regular security audits to prevent similar incidents.
