More than 2.4 billion records of TikTok users' data have just surfaced on a hacking forum, according to a report by hackers on the popular data dump site. The database includes users' email addresses and phone numbers. If the hackers' claims are confirmed, the leak would affect nearly all TikTok users.
More than 2.4 billion records of TikTok users' data have just surfaced on a hacking forum, according to a report by hackers on the popular data dump site. The database includes users' email addresses and phone numbers. If the hackers' claims are confirmed, the leak would affect nearly all TikTok users.
Cybernews researchers have investigated claims of a possible TikTok data leak. According to the team, the attackers have published 10 sample recordings to support their claims. The published samples contain sensitive user data such as:
nicknames;
email addresses;
telephone numbers;
dates of birth;
in some cases, full names, gender, as well as language or geolocation data.
Researchers believe that the released data samples do not contain any specific features that would indicate that this information belongs exclusively to TikTok users.
At the same time, the team concluded that this data was likely stolen and pieced together using malicious information-stealing software (infostealers).
However, based on the information provided by the attackers, the Cybernews team was unable to confirm their claims.
In particular, the ad includes a download link that redirects to a private Telegram channel with only one participant. This provides no additional evidence regarding the actual size or authenticity of the alleged database.
"We cannot confirm the existence of billions of records in this leak. But the title of the post is, to put it mildly, attractive to cybercriminals," Cybernews noted.
