Microsoft's YouTube channel hacked

An unidentified hacker broke into the YouTube channel of software giant Microsoft, removing all its videos and posting solicitations for sponsorships. Tech site Geekwire reported videos were uploaded and solicited advertisements for the channel but appeared to be removed as of Monday morning. "The background on the channel has been replaced and all of the company’s archived videos, including those for its newly launched advertising campaign, have been removed," it said. As of 4 a.m. Monday (Manila time), all videos were apparently removed from Microsoft's YouTube channel, with the message that "Microsoft has no videos available." Geekwire said it contacted Microsoft, which said it is "aware that someone has altered the YouTube channel devoted to Microsoft videos." "We are working with YouTube to rectify the situation," it added. The profile of the Microsoft channel indicates it has 8.212 million upload views and has 24,561 subscribers. 4 videos Tech site Mashable said at least four videos have been uploaded to the account, all time-stamped within two hours. A fifth video was apparently removed. The video, “Garry’s Mod – Escape the Box," featured what appeared to be an animated gunman shooting at the inside of a construction box. The channel’s description reads, “I DID NOTHING WRONG I SIMPLY SIGNED INTO MY ACCOUNT THAT I MADE IN 2006 :/." Publicity stunt unlikely A separate article on computer security firm Sophos said some of the uploaded videos were three or four seconds in length, and typically call on other Internet users to post video responses, create new background images for the channel or provide sponsorship. "It seems unlikely that the change to the YouTube channel is a bizarre publicity stunt by Microsoft. After all, what would be the sense in deleting its archive of past videos - many of which are embedded on third-party sites around the world," it said. — RSJ, GMA News