TikTok acknowledges exploit targeting high-profile accounts
TikTok says its security team is addressing an issue that allowed hackers to compromise several high-profile celeb and brand accounts on its video platform, including those of Paris Hilton, CNN and Sony. The ByteDance-owned video app maker did not provide any details about the nature of the attack or the company’s mitigation techniques, instead saying only that it has taken measures to contain the attack and prevent it from happening in the future.
The malicious attack, first reported by Semaphore and Forbes, appears to involve malware transmitted via TikTok’s DMs (direct messages) and may have affected account owners’ ability to access their TikTok profiles. The hacker’s targets were not immediately clear, as none of the affected accounts had begun posting content. CNN’s account was breached by a hacker last week, forcing the account to be down for several days, according to Semaphore. The news organization said it is working with TikTok on additional measures to ensure the account remains secure in the coming days, including during the US presidential election.
When contacted for comment, TikTok declined to share further details about the nature of the attack or its countermeasures, so as not to “inform” potentially malicious actors.
“Our security team is aware of a potential exploit targeting several high-profile accounts,” a company spokesperson said. “We have taken measures to contain this attack and prevent it from happening in the future. We are working directly with affected account owners to restore access if necessary.”
These attacks come at a time when TikTok’s influence in the US is under question. Citing national security concerns, President Biden signed a bill in April that would force TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the app or face a ban on operating in the US. If ByteDance does not sell the app, it will become illegal for app stores to distribute TikTok when the law comes into force.
TikTok has sued the US government over the law, with the case set to be entangled in the courts for many months to come. Meanwhile, one of TikTok’s earliest critics, Donald Trump – the first president to try to ban the app in the US – has now turned to the app to campaign.