The TikTok app with over 1 billion users has a serious security flaw

TikTok is a social networking application that shares short videos, with a length of 3 – 5 seconds, loved by many teens. As of mid-2019, TikTok has more than 1.3 billion monthly users, being the top 1 social networking application on Android and top 2 on iOS.

However, TikTok was considered a threat by the United States because it suspected of collecting user data and sending it back to the Chinese government. The United States Army even banned soldiers from using TikTok, for fear of revealing important information.

Recently, this social networking application encountered another big problem. Check Point Research has published a report that notes that: “Over the past few months, we have discovered security holes within the TikTok application.”

Security holes were discovered to allow hackers to access users’ personal data, manipulate accounts, delete content, transfer private videos to public mode.

Fake message.

Check Point Research discovered how a bad guy could send a text message, masquerading as a notification sent from TikTok. These messages will come with a link, which if clicked on, the user’s account will be hacked.

In a response, TikTok security team member said: “TikTok is always committed to protecting user data. We have come up with a quick solution to help prevent this security hole. ”

Security researcher Oded Vanunu of Check Point Research said that new applications launched with a large number of users such as TikTok are a favorite target of hackers. Moreover, social networking applications like TikTok may also contain sensitive personal content, which hackers can use to blackmail users. So Check Point Research also warns users not to share or store sensitive content on social networking platforms.

References: Phonearena