TikTok has taken action to address a cyberattack that targeted the accounts of various celebrities and brands, such as Paris Hilton and CNN.
The social video app has confirmed that CNN was one of the high-profile accounts affected after its security team discovered malicious actors targeting US news media.
A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We have collaborated with CNN to restore access to the account and have implemented stronger security measures to safeguard the account from future attacks.”
While Hilton was also targeted, TikTok clarified that her account remained uncompromised.
The platform disclosed that the attack exploited the app’s direct messaging feature but did not provide additional specifics. The company is currently investigating the incident and assisting affected account owners in regaining access.
Owned by ByteDance, a Chinese technology company, TikTok faces potential bans in the US due to national security concerns. President Joe Biden enacted a bill in April that will prohibit the app nationwide if ByteDance fails to sell it to non-Chinese entities by mid-January.
With approximately 170 million users in the US, TikTok previously announced its intention to legally challenge the ban, citing it as unconstitutional and a violation of freedom of speech.
Recent reports revealed that former President Donald Trump, who had previously banned TikTok over ties to Beijing in 2020, joined the platform. Trump has since reversed his stance, no longer supporting a ban on TikTok despite concerns about national security risks.
The cyberattack on TikTok is the latest in a string of hacking incidents targeting social media platforms. One of the most notable incidents occurred in July 2020 when Twitter accounts, including those of Biden, Obama, Musk, Gates, Bezos, and Apple, were compromised.
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The NHS confirmed on Tuesday that it fell victim to a cyberattack, declaring it a “major incident.”
Seven hospitals managed by two NHS trusts, including Guy’s, St Thomas’, and King’s College London, experienced significant disruptions in services due to a ransomware attack on a private company responsible for analyzing blood tests.
Source: www.theguardian.com
