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TikTok Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

TikTok Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

In August 2020, TikTok experienced a data breach involving an unsecured database with data from multiple social media accounts. The database, initially collected by Deep Social, was discovered by security company Comparitech and was accessible without a password or encryption. Another breach occurred in June 2024, when hackers targeted notable accounts on TikTok using malicious links sent through private messages. TikTok has since taken measures to stop the attack and prevent future incidents.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 235 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included personal data such as names, ages, genders, profile images, email addresses, phone numbers, facial recognition data without user consent, and account access information through malicious links sent via private messages.

How was TikTok hacked?

Hackers exploited TikTok's vulnerabilities by sending malicious links through private messages to hijack prominent accounts, including that of CNN. The company has since taken measures to stop the attack and prevent future occurrences, working directly with affected account owners to restore access as needed.

TikTok's solution

In response to the hack, TikTok took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. Although specific security protocol enhancements remain unclear, the company has taken steps to stop the attack and prevent it from happening again. TikTok is also working directly with affected account owners to restore access as needed.

How do I know if I was affected?

TikTok has not explicitly mentioned reaching out to affected users in the aftermath of the data breach. However, if you are a TikTok user and are concerned about your account's security, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials have been compromised in any data breaches.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Password: Immediately update your password for the breached account. Make sure the new password is strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on the breached account. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report it immediately to the respective platform.

For more specific help and instructions related to TikTok's data breach, please contact TikTok Support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the TikTok data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

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TikTok Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

TikTok Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

In August 2020, TikTok experienced a data breach involving an unsecured database with data from multiple social media accounts. The database, initially collected by Deep Social, was discovered by security company Comparitech and was accessible without a password or encryption. Another breach occurred in June 2024, when hackers targeted notable accounts on TikTok using malicious links sent through private messages. TikTok has since taken measures to stop the attack and prevent future incidents.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 235 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included personal data such as names, ages, genders, profile images, email addresses, phone numbers, facial recognition data without user consent, and account access information through malicious links sent via private messages.

How was TikTok hacked?

Hackers exploited TikTok's vulnerabilities by sending malicious links through private messages to hijack prominent accounts, including that of CNN. The company has since taken measures to stop the attack and prevent future occurrences, working directly with affected account owners to restore access as needed.

TikTok's solution

In response to the hack, TikTok took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. Although specific security protocol enhancements remain unclear, the company has taken steps to stop the attack and prevent it from happening again. TikTok is also working directly with affected account owners to restore access as needed.

How do I know if I was affected?

TikTok has not explicitly mentioned reaching out to affected users in the aftermath of the data breach. However, if you are a TikTok user and are concerned about your account's security, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials have been compromised in any data breaches.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Password: Immediately update your password for the breached account. Make sure the new password is strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on the breached account. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report it immediately to the respective platform.

For more specific help and instructions related to TikTok's data breach, please contact TikTok Support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the TikTok data breach, check out the following news articles:

Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.

TikTok Data Breach: What & How It Happened?

Twingate Team

Jun 28, 2024

In August 2020, TikTok experienced a data breach involving an unsecured database with data from multiple social media accounts. The database, initially collected by Deep Social, was discovered by security company Comparitech and was accessible without a password or encryption. Another breach occurred in June 2024, when hackers targeted notable accounts on TikTok using malicious links sent through private messages. TikTok has since taken measures to stop the attack and prevent future incidents.

How many accounts were compromised?

The breach impacted data related to approximately 235 million individuals.

What data was leaked?

The data exposed in the breach included personal data such as names, ages, genders, profile images, email addresses, phone numbers, facial recognition data without user consent, and account access information through malicious links sent via private messages.

How was TikTok hacked?

Hackers exploited TikTok's vulnerabilities by sending malicious links through private messages to hijack prominent accounts, including that of CNN. The company has since taken measures to stop the attack and prevent future occurrences, working directly with affected account owners to restore access as needed.

TikTok's solution

In response to the hack, TikTok took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. Although specific security protocol enhancements remain unclear, the company has taken steps to stop the attack and prevent it from happening again. TikTok is also working directly with affected account owners to restore access as needed.

How do I know if I was affected?

TikTok has not explicitly mentioned reaching out to affected users in the aftermath of the data breach. However, if you are a TikTok user and are concerned about your account's security, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials have been compromised in any data breaches.

What should affected users do?

In general, affected users should:

  • Change Your Password: Immediately update your password for the breached account. Make sure the new password is strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.

  • Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.

  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on the breached account. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

  • Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity and report it immediately to the respective platform.

For more specific help and instructions related to TikTok's data breach, please contact TikTok Support directly.

Where can I go to learn more?

If you want to find more information on the TikTok data breach, check out the following news articles: