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Despacito video returns to YouTube as Vevo attempts to deal with widespread hack

Other videos, which included songs by Drake and Selena Gomez, are slowly being fixed

Andrew Griffin
Tuesday 10 April 2018 15:51 BST
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The video for Despacito has finally returned to YouTube, after a major hack hit the site.

The most popular video ever on the site had gone missing in the wake of the cyber attack, which also saw the names of videos altered.

Music video owners are finally getting control of their accounts back, spokespeople said. The hack not only meant that the site's most popular video had been removed, but also that hackers were able to add embarrassing names to many of the world's biggest songs.

The removal of Despacito was particularly shocking since it came soon after it was crowned the site's most viewed video ever. It has been watched more than five billion times – and it wasn't clear whether those views would stay around after the hack.

YouTube's statement appeared to suggested that the video had been taken down intentionally – by Vevo, and not by hackers – so that the reach of the hack would be limited. That appeared to have been suggested earlier by a Twitter account claiming to belong to one of the hackers.

“After seeing unusual upload activity on a handful of VEVO channels, we worked quickly with our partner to disable access while they investigate the issue," YouTube said.

But it is now back online, with all of those views intact. The video also retains its upload date of a year ago.

It is still not clear how the hack was able to happen. But Vevo – which runs music video channels on YouTube and appeared to have been the actual subject of the hack – said that it was gradually regaining control of the videos and fixing them again.

“Vevo can confirm that a number of videos in its catalogue were subject to a security breach today, which has now been contained," a spokesperson said. "We are working to reinstate all videos affected and our catalogue to be restored to full working order. We are continuing to investigate the source of the breach."

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