TikTok, the popular video app owned by ByteDance, has been facing a security issue that allowed hackers to gain access to high-profile celebrity and brand accounts. Paris Hilton and Sony are among the accounts that were compromised. The company’s security team is now working to resolve the vulnerability and prevent similar attacks in the future.
While TikTok has not provided specific details about the nature of the attack or the strategies they are implementing to protect against it, reports suggest that the attack involved malware transmitted through the direct messaging feature of the app. This resulted in account owners being unable to access their profiles. One account was even taken offline for several days after a hacker gained access to it.
In response to these security breaches, TikTok has partnered with news agency Semafor to implement additional protections, particularly in light of the upcoming presidential elections in the United States. However, TikTok has declined to release any further information about the attack or their countermeasures, citing the need to prevent potential dangers from being “tipped off.”
TikTok’s security team is actively working to put an end to the attack and prevent similar incidents in the future. They are engaging in direct interactions with affected account owners to assess the need for restoring access. These attacks come at a time when TikTok’s impact in the United States is already under scrutiny due to concerns about national security.
In April, Vice President Joe Biden signed a measure that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or risk being banned from operating in the United States. The law was enacted to address concerns about the safety of the country. Once the regulation takes effect, it will be illegal for app stores to distribute TikTok if ByteDance does not sell.
In response to this law, TikTok has taken legal action against the U.S. government, which means the matter will be tied up in court for a significant amount of time. Interestingly, former President Donald Trump, who initially attempted to ban TikTok in the U.S., has now started using the platform to promote his own political agenda.
In conclusion, TikTok is actively addressing the security vulnerabilities that allowed hackers to breach high-profile accounts. While the company has not provided specific details about the attack or their countermeasures, they are working with partners to enhance security measures. These incidents come at a crucial time for TikTok, as the app’s future in the United States is already uncertain due to national security concerns.
