TikTok Denying Has Been Hacked, Data Shared To Non-Secret Hacker Forum

TikTok denies any data hacking. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - TikTok denied reports that their app had been hacked after a group of hackers posted images of what they claimed were the TikTok database containing the user's source code and information. In response to these allegations, TikTok said his team "has found no evidence of a security breach."

According to Bleeping Computer, hackers shared images of alleged databases to hacking forums, saying they obtained data on servers used by TikTok. He claims these servers hold more than 2 billion user records and data worth 790GB, platform statistics, codes, and more.

This is so far pretty inconclusive; some data matches production info, albeit publicly accessible info. Some data is junk, but it could be non-production or test data. It's a bit of a mixed bag so far.

— Troy Hunt (@troyhunt) September 5, 2022

We have confirmed that all of the data samples in question are publicly accessible and not due to the compromise of TikTok systems, networks, or databases, a TikTok spokeswoman windohan said in a statement to The Verge. "We don't believe users need to take any proactive action, and we remain committed to the safety and security of our global community."

Most of the "stealed" data appears to be public information taken from the platform. Troy Hunt, regional director at Microsoft and device creator Have I Been Pwned, said hacker data were "unconvinced", but suspected "it could be non-production data or test data" that might not have been taken through hacking.

The hacker group, calling themselves AgainstTheWest, claims that they also obtained data from another Chinese messaging app, WeChat. However, Hunt was unable to confirm whether the hacker database contained stolen information. While WeChat did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment.

Both TikTok and WeChat are under scrutiny over their relations with China. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is based in China. TikTok itself has taken several steps, such as accommodating American user data on US-basedcurrencydozens. This is an attempt to reverse recent reports on TikTok employees in China that can access user information in the US.