TikTok says its security team is addressing an issue that allowed hackers to compromise the accounts of many high-profile celebrities and brands on its video platform, including those belonging to Paris Hilton, CNN and Sony. The ByteDance-owned video app maker did not provide any information about the nature of the attack or the company’s mitigation techniques, but said only that it had taken steps to stop the attack and prevent it from happening in the future.
The malicious attack, as mentioned earlier by Semaphore and Forbes, appears to involve malware that is spread through TikTok DMs (direct messages) and may have affected account holders’ ability to access their TikTok profiles. The hacker’s goals were not immediately clear, as none of the affected accounts had started posting content. According to Semafor, CNN’s account was compromised by a hacker last week, requiring the account to be suspended for several days. The news organization said it is working with TikTok on additional measures to ensure the account remains secure in the coming days, including the US presidential election.
When reached for comment, TikTok declined to share more details about the nature of the attack or its countermeasures so as not to “alert” potential malicious actors.
“Our security team is aware of a potential exploit targeting a number of high-profile accounts,” a company spokesperson said. “We have taken steps to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future. We are working directly with affected account holders to restore access if necessary.”
The attacks come at a time when TikTok’s influence in the US is being questioned. 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 be banned from operating in the U.S. If ByteDance doesn’t sell, it would make it illegal for app stores to distribute TikTok when the law goes into effect.
TikTok has since sued the US government over the law, which will tie up the case in court for many months. Meanwhile, one of TikTok’s earlier critics, Donald Trump – the first president to try to ban the app in the US – has now joined the app to campaign.
