TikTok stated its safety staff is fixing a problem that allowed hackers to breach the accounts of a number of high-profile celebrities and types on its video platform, together with these of Paris Hilton, CNN and Sony . The Bytedance-owned video app maker didn’t present any details about the character of the assault or the corporate’s mitigation methods, saying solely that it had taken steps to cease the assault and stop it from occurring once more sooner or later.
As Semafor and Forbes reported earlier, the malicious assault seems to have concerned malware transmitted through TikTok’s DMs (direct messages) and should have affected the account proprietor’s potential to entry their TikTok profile. The targets of the hackers are unclear because the affected accounts haven’t but began posting content material. In line with Semafor, CNN’s account was hacked final week, inflicting it to be shut down for a number of days. The information group stated it’s working with TikTok to take further steps to make sure the account stays safe within the coming days, together with through the U.S. presidential election.
TikTok was contacted for remark, however it declined to offer additional particulars concerning the nature of the assault or its countermeasures so as to not “give away” potential malicious actors.
“Our safety staff is conscious of a possible vulnerability focusing on a lot of high-profile accounts,” an organization spokesperson stated. “We’ve taken steps to cease this assault and stop it from occurring once more. We’re working straight with affected account homeowners if wanted. to revive entry.
The assaults come as TikTok’s affect in america is being questioned. Citing nationwide safety issues, President Biden signed a invoice in April that might drive TikTok’s Chinese language mum or dad firm ByteDance to promote the app or be banned from working in america.
TikTok has since sued the U.S. authorities over the regulation, a case that will probably be performed out in courtroom within the coming months. In the meantime, President Donald Trump, certainly one of TikTok’s early critics and the primary President to attempt to ban the app in america, has now begun utilizing the app for his marketing campaign.
