TikTok has announced measures to combat a recent cyber-attack that targeted several celebrity and brand accounts, including those of Paris Hilton and CNN. The social video app confirmed that CNN’s feed was among a few high-profile accounts affected after its security team was alerted to malicious actors targeting the US news outlet.
In a statement, a TikTok spokesperson emphasized the company’s collaborative efforts with CNN to restore account access and implement enhanced security measures to safeguard the account moving forward.
The attack, which TikTok stated occurred through the app’s direct messaging feature, is still under investigation. The platform, owned by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, is working with affected account owners to restore access and reinforce security.
US Ban
This incident comes at a time when TikTok faces the threat of a US ban due to national security concerns. In April, President Joe Biden signed legislation mandating the app’s prohibition across the country unless ByteDance sells it to a non-Chinese entity by mid-January. TikTok, with around 170 million US users, is taking legal action to block the law, arguing that it is unconstitutional and violates free speech.
Adding to the complexity, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the presidency, recently joined TikTok. This is noteworthy because, in 2020, during his presidency, he signed an executive order to ban the app due to its links to Beijing. However, in March, Trump told reporters that despite considering TikTok a national security risk, he no longer supported a ban.
The TikTok attack is the latest in a series of hacks targeting social media platforms in recent years. One of the most notable incidents occurred in July 2020 when hackers gained control of accounts belonging to public figures and corporations on Twitter – now X. Victims included Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Apple.
