HHackers have targeted several high-profile TikTok accounts, including that of reality TV star Paris Hilton, media company CNN and entertainment group Sony.
“Our security team is aware of a potential exploit targeting a number of high-profile accounts,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement shared with TIME. “We have taken steps to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future.”
Jason Grosse, a spokesperson for TikTok’s privacy and security team, provided more details in a phone call with TIME. He shared that Hilton’s account was attacked but not compromised. However, CNN’s account was compromised as a result of the hack.
Grosse said the app is working to get CNN’s account back up and running and protect the media company from further attacks through “enhanced security measures.”
While Grosse said the app is not disclosing the exact number of affected accounts, he says his investigations indicate the cyberattack only targeted a small number of high-profile accounts, and standard (not high-profile) users are likely will not be targeted.
According to Grosse, the attack occurred specifically through direct messaging resources and is known as a “zero-day exploit”. A zero-day exploit refers to a cyberattack that takes advantage of unknown security flaws in software.
The US government is already concerned about TikTok’s privacy and security issues, although more in relation to its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, and the possibility of sharing user data with China’s government.
In April, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that would ban TikTok in the US if the social media platform’s China-based owner did not sell its stake within a year. However, in May, TikTok fought back and sued the US government over the ban, saying it is unconstitutional. That same month, eight TikTok creators joined the app to sue the ban, saying they rely on TikTok to express themselves, learn and find community.
In other TikTok-related news, former President Donald Trump recently decided to finally join the social media platform as the 2024 election campaign ramps up. The decision likely surprised many, as Trump attempted to ban the app during his presidency. President Biden’s campaign also joined TikTok in February in an apparent attempt to connect with younger voters.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
