CyberNews
TikTok and ByteDance file lawsuit to block US divest-or-ban bill
TikTok and Chinese parent company ByteDance filed suit in US federal court seeking to block a law that would force the company to divest from TikTok or face a ban.
SecurityWeek
How TikTok Grew From a Fun App for Teens Into a Potential National Security Threat
History of TikTok and how it many view it as a national security threat based on connections to China.
The Cyber Express
TCE Cyberwatch: From Ransomware to Deepfakes, This Week’s Top Cybersecurity Threats
This week's TCE Cyberwatch delves into a range of pressing cybersecurity issues impacting the world today. From the rise of
The Record
Congress picked a direct fight with ByteDance and TikTok. The privacy implications are less clear.
Lawmakers sought to keep Americans' data out of the Chinese government's hands. For privacy advocates and others, though, the new TikTok law raises bigger questions.
The Record
Hackers accessed more than 19,000 accounts on California state welfare platform
Officials at the California Statewide Automated Welfare System filed breach notification documents with state regulators earlier this month, warning participants in the BenefitsCal program about an intruder.
CyberNews
TikTok CEO vows to 'prevail' and defeat US restrictions
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expects to win a legal challenge to block divest-or-ban legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden and Congress.
CyberNews
US Senate passes TikTok divestment-or-ban bill
The US Senate voted in favor of legislation that would ban TikTok in the United States.
Infosecurity News
US Congress Passes Bill to Ban TikTok
The bill that could see TikTok banned in the US has been approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate
CyberNews
TikTok ban gets closer after House vote, but long legal battle awaits
The US House has again voted to ban TikTok in the country if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell its stake. But TikTok will not go down without a fight.
CyberNews
TikTok divest deadline could be extended to one year
US lawmakers are proposing to extend the deadline – from six months to one year – for TikTok’s parent company, China’s ByteDance, to divest from the short-form video app.
Bleeping Computer
New Windows driver blocks software from changing default web browser
Microsoft is now using a Windows driver to prevent users from changing the Windows 10 and Windows 11 default browser manually or through software.
CyberScoop
Chinese hackers turn to AI to meddle in elections
Beijing’s influence operations are experimenting with synthetically generated content to carry out influence operations, per Microsoft report.
SC Magazine
Odd NuGet package for industrial equipment raises espionage concerns
The open-source .NET package stealthily exfiltrates screenshots from BOZHON equipment.
CyberNews
Apple picks Baidu for AI features in China - report
Apple has chosen China’s search giant Baidu to provide AI features for its products in the country, including the upcoming iPhone 16, local media has reported.
CyberNews
House passes important privacy bill overshadowed by TikTok fever
Everyone in DC is still talking about the potential TikTok ban. But the House of Representatives also passed a bill on data privacy this week – to much less fanfare.
The Hacker News
U.S. Sanctions Russians Behind 'Doppelganger' Cyber Influence Campaign
U.S. Treasury announces sanctions against two Russian nationals & their companies for running cyber influence ops.
CyberNews
US vs TikTok: could VPNs be the answer
TikTok faces a total ban from the US market after the company was told to sever ties with Chinese owner ByteDance.
CyberNews
TikTok fined €10 million by Italian regulator over harmful content
The Italian Competition Authority has fined TikTok €10 million for failing to protect users from a harmful game known as the French Scar Challenge.
CyberNews
Senate divided over TikTok divest bill, vote on pause
The US Senate will pause its vote on a fast-track bill that would force Chinese-owned TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face a ban in the US.
The Record
TikTok fined nearly $11 million by Italian regulator
Italian authorities fined TikTok $10.9 million on Thursday for fueling the spread of videos likely to harm the “psycho physical safety” of users, according to a press release from the country’s Competition Authority (AGCM).
DarkReading
TikTok Ban Raises Data Security, Control Questions
Approved by the House and moving on to the Senate, the potential ban points up the porousness of governmental control in the digital age.
Infosecurity News
TikTok Faces US Ban as House Votes to Compel ByteDance to Sell
The vote saw 352 members of Congress supporting the bill while only 65 opposed it
CyberNews
TikTok CEO Shou Chew addresses potential United States ban
TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew has responded to a recent bill to ban the platform in the United States if the company does not sever ties with Chinese owner ByteDance.
SecurityWeek
Bill That Could Ban TikTok Passed in the House. Here’s What to Know
TikTok finds itself in a precarious position as lawmakers in Washington move forward with a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on the platform.
CyberNews
US House tells TikTok parent ByteDance to divest or face ban
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that would give TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest the US assets or face a ban.
CyberNews
US spy chief "cannot rule out" China using TikTok to sway elections
China could use social media app TikTok to influence the 2024 US elections, said US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.
CyberNews
Apple greenlights downloading apps from websites
Apple allows developers who to distribute apps directly from their websites.
The Hacker News
Meta Details WhatsApp and Messenger Interoperability to Comply with EU's DMA Regulations
Meta announces plans for interoperability between WhatsApp, Messenger, and third-party messaging services in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act.
CyberNews
US lawmakers approve bill forcing TikTok to divest or face ban
US lawmakers approved legislation giving the Chinese-owned ByteDance six months to divest from TikTok or be banned from operating its social media apps in the US.
CyberNews
As Big Tech scrambles to meet EU rules, investigations seen as likely
From overhauling online platforms to backroom engineering, Big Tech firms have scrambled over the last six months to comply with landmark EU tech rules.
The Record
Bills targeting data brokers and TikTok approved in House committee
The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced bills that would force TikTok to separate from its Chinese ownership or be stripped from app stores and block data brokers from selling or transferring Americans’ data to foreign adversaries.
CyberNews
Universal Music Publishing Group content gets the boot from TikTok
TikTok officially begins to mute any content on its video app involving artists or songs published by Universal Music Publishing Group ahead of a March 1st deadline.
Computerworld
EU begins formal investigation of TikTok over potential violations of Digital Services Act
The move could spur enterprises to consider banning the use of the controversial video-sharing platform over privacy and safety concerns.
Infosecurity News
EU Launches Investigation Into TikTok Over Privacy Concerns
TikTok is suspected of breaching the EU’s Digital Services Act requirements on transparency, privacy and obligations to protect minors
CyberNews
UMG label to pull music from TikTok after AI dispute
Universal Music Group, representing artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish, will pull its music from TikTok after unsolved royalty disagreements.
CyberNews
TikTok owner introduces LEGO language model, OpenAI not happy
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is planning to launch its own LLM. Last month, OpenAI suspended ByteDance’s account for using GPT to build a competitor.
CyberNews
Meta, Alphabet, ByteDance must face social media addiction lawsuits
A federal judge rejects Meta, Alphabet, and ByteDance's effort to dismiss litigation claiming their social media platforms addict children and damage their mental health.
CyberNews
TikTok responds to charges of antisemitism as it battles misinformation
A TikTok blog post, released Thursday, aims to dispel accusations that the social app is pushing a political agenda regarding the still unfolding Israel-Hamas conflict.
SecurityWeek
European Privacy Officials Widen Ban on Meta's Behavioral Advertising to Most of Europe
European privacy officials have widened a ban on Meta’s “behavioral advertising” practices to most of Europe.
The Hacker News
Canada Bans WeChat and Kaspersky Apps On Government Devices
Canada bans WeChat and Kaspersky apps on government devices, citing privacy and security risks.
The Record
Canada bans WeChat, Kaspersky apps on government mobile phones
Canadian state officials are now banned from using the messaging app WeChat and the antivirus program Kaspersky on government-issued mobile devices due to "unacceptable" privacy and security risks because of their associations with China and Russia, respectively.
SecurityWeek
Canada Bans WeChat and Kaspersky on Government Phones
Canada's CISO determined that WeChat and Kaspersky applications present an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.
SecurityWeek
TikTok Is Hit With $368 Million Fine Under Europe's Strict Data Privacy Rules
European regulators slapped TikTok with $368 million fine for failing to protect children’s privacy and breaching strict data privacy rules.
SecurityWeek
Spies, Hackers, Informants: How China Snoops on the West
Some of the ways China has worked to spy on the West in recent years, including Industrial and military espionage
SecurityWeek
Europe is Cracking Down on Big Tech. This Is What Will Change When You Sign On
The Digital Services Act aims to protect European users when it comes to privacy, transparency and removal of harmful or illegal content.
The Record
Somalia bans TikTok, Telegram over ‘horrific' content
Somalia announced on Sunday a ban against social media platforms TikTok and Telegram, as well as the online betting platform 1XBet, saying they’re used by “terrorists” to spread “horrific images and misinformation.”
The Record
Lawsuit: ByteDance’s CapCut app secretly reaps massive amounts of user data
CapCut, a sister app of TikTok, does not properly notify its users of its data practices and does not ask them for consent, according to a class action lawsuit filed under Illinois' BIPA law.
ZDNet
Meta removes Facebook content after notification to do so under Singapore online safety law
A Facebook page containing child sexual exploitation content has been removed, after the social media platform was notified to do so under a Singapore legislation that kicked in just this year.
Security Affairs
Security Affairs newsletter Round 420 by Pierluigi Paganini – International edition
A new round of the weekly SecurityAffairs newsletter arrived! Every week the best security articles from Security Affairs are free for you in your email box. Enjoy a new round of the weekly SecurityAffairs newsletter, including the international press. We are in the final! Please vote for Security Affairs (https://securityaffairs.com/) as the best European Cybersecurity […]
Infosecurity News
Montana Signs Ban on TikTok Usage on Personal Devices
A TikTok spokesperson said the ban violates the First Amendment rights of Montana residents
Security Affairs
Former ByteDance executive alleges TikTok of wrongful conduct
A former ByteDance executive revealed that the China government has access to TikTok data, including data stored in the United. Yintao Yu, the head of engineering for ByteDance’s U.S. operations from August 2017 to November 2018, revealed that the Chinese government has access to all TikTok data, including information stored in the United. He explained […]
Infosecurity News
TikTok to Comply With US Law, Protect User Data From China
Erich Andersen, general counsel for TikTok, confirmed company will safeguard US user data from China
CSO
France bans TikTok, all social media apps from government devices
French government says TikTok and all other “recreational apps” pose data security risks if installed on government and senior official devices.
CSO
UK parliament follows government by banning TikTok over cybersecurity concerns
TikTok calls the UK ban “misguided” while its chief executive faced tough questioning by the US House of Representatives over whether the popular app is a “tool” of the Chinese Communist Party.
Security Affairs
Canada is going to ban TikTok on government mobile devices
The Canadian government announced it will ban the video app TikTok from all government-issued devices over security concerns. Canada is going to ban the popular Chinese video-sharing app TikTok from the mobile devices of its employees over security concerns. The app will be removed from government devices this week. The app “presents an unacceptable level […]
Infosecurity News
US Gov. Agencies Have 30 Days to Remove TikTok, Canada Follows Suit
Within 90 days, agencies must also cancel existing contracts that necessitate the app's use
DarkReading
TikTok Ban Hits EU Commission Phones as Cybersecurity Worries Mount
Employees of the EU Commission are no longer allowed to use the TikTok app thanks to concerns over data security.
Security Affairs
The European Commission has banned its staff from using TikTok over security concerns
The European Commission has banned its employees from using the Chinese social media app TikTok over security concerns. The European Union has banned the popular Chinese video-sharing app TikTok from the mobile devices of its employees over security concerns. The app developed by the Chinese firm ByteDance has over 1 billion active users worldwide, it […]
SecurityWeek
EU's Breton Warns TikTok CEO: Comply With New Digital Rules
The European Union’s digital policy chief warned TikTok’s boss that the social media app will have to fall in line with tough new rules for online platforms set to take effect later this year.
Security Affairs
French CNIL fined Tiktok $5.4 Million for violating cookie laws
French data protection watchdog fined short-form video hosting service TikTok €5 million for breaking cookie consent rules. The Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) has fined short-form video hosting service TikTok €5 million (about $5.4 million) for violating cookie consent rules. French data protection watchdog claims that users are not able to refuse cookies, as easily […]
The Hacker News
TikTok Fined $5.4 Million by French Regulator for Violating Cookie Laws
The French data protection watchdog has fined TikTok €5 million for failing to comply with cookie consent regulations.
SecurityWeek
EU Tells TikTok Chief To Respect Data Privacy Laws
The European Union warns online giant TikTok to respect EU law and ensure the safety of European users' data, as the video-sharing app's CEO met with top officials in Brussels.
SecurityWeek
More Political Storms for TikTok After US Government Ban
Democrats have joined the groundswell of criticism and US President Joe Biden signed a new law that bans the use of TikTok on government-issued devices.
CSO
US Congress funds cybersecurity initiatives in FY2023 spending bill
This year’s appropriation bill covers a lot of cybersecurity territory, including threats from TikTok and foreign adversaries and steps to improve medical device security.
Security Affairs
Security Affairs newsletter Round 399 by Pierluigi Paganini
A new round of the weekly SecurityAffairs newsletter arrived! Every week the best security articles from Security Affairs free for you in your email box. If you want to also receive for free the newsletter with the international press subscribe here. Expert found Backdoor credentials in ZyXEL LTE3301 M209 Raspberry Robin malware used in attacks against Telecom […]
Security Affairs
Security Affairs newsletter Round 399 by Pierluigi Paganini
A new round of the weekly SecurityAffairs newsletter arrived! Every week the best security articles from Security Affairs free for you in your email box. If you want to also receive for free the newsletter with the international press subscribe here. Expert found Backdoor credentials in ZyXEL LTE3301 M209 Raspberry Robin malware used in attacks against Telecom […]
Security Affairs
TikTok parent company ByteDance revealed the use of TikTok data to track journalists
ByteDance admitted that its employees accessed TikTok data to track journalists to identify the source of leaks to the media. TikTok parent company ByteDance revealed that several employees accessed the TikTok data of two journalists to investigate leaks of company information to the media. According to an email from ByteDance’s general counsel Erich Andersen which […]
Security Affairs
TikTok parent company ByteDance revealed the use of TikTok data to track journalists
ByteDance admitted that its employees accessed TikTok data to track journalists to identify the source of leaks to the media. TikTok parent company ByteDance revealed that several employees accessed the TikTok data of two journalists to investigate leaks of company information to the media. According to an email from ByteDance’s general counsel Erich Andersen which […]
Infosecurity News
TikTok’s Parent Company Admits Using the Platform’s Data to Track Journalists
In a series of emails seen by several media, ByteDance admitted that some of its former employees used TikTok’s data to track two journalists
SecurityWeek
China's ByteDance Admits Using TikTok Data to Track Journalists
Employees of Chinese tech giant ByteDance improperly accessed data from social media platform TikTok to track journalists in a bid to identify the source of leaks to the media.
SecurityWeek
Congress Moves to Ban TikTok From US Government Devices
TikTok would be banned from most U.S. government devices under a spending bill Congress unveiled Dec. 20, the latest push by American lawmakers against the Chinese-owned social media app.
Infosecurity News
Senate Approves Bill Banning TikTok From US Government Devices
The bill still needs to receive approval from the US House of Representatives
DarkReading
TikTok Banned on Govt. Devices; Will Private Sector Follow Suit?
Texas and Maryland this week joined three other states in prohibiting accessing the popular social media app from state-owned devices.
SecurityWeek
FBI Director Raises National Security Concerns About TikTok
FBI Director Christopher Wray is raising national security concerns about TikTok, warning that control of the video sharing app is in the hands of a Chinese government.
CyberScoop
FBI director says he's 'extremely concerned' about China's ability to weaponize TikTok
Christopher Wray said China could control TikTok's algorithm to support anti-American information operations, posing a serious risk.
CyberScoop
Senators slam social media companies for failure to keep disinformation from going viral
Tech executives say they are working hard to fight disinformation, but lawmakers and critics say they simply aren't doing enough.
CyberNews
Threat actor behind alleged TikTok hack gets permanently banned from BreachForums | Cybernews
The cybercriminal is now banned from Twitter and the illicit hacking community forum where they first bragged about the breach.
The Hacker News
TikTok Denies Data Breach Reportedly Exposing Over 2 Billion Users' Information
TikTok has denied reports of a data breach after a hacker group claimed to have gained access to information on two billion of its users.
Bleeping Computer
TikTok denies hack following leak of user data, source code
TikTok denies recent claims it was breached, and source code and user data were stolen, telling BleepingComputer that data posted to a hacking forum is "completely unrelated" to the company.
Bleeping Computer
TikTok denies security breach after hackers leak user data, source code
TikTok denies recent claims it was breached, and source code and user data were stolen, telling BleepingComputer that data posted to a hacking forum is "completely unrelated" to the company.
CyberNews
TikTok Music may be in the works, patent filing shows | Cybernews
TikTok may take on Spotify and Apple Music in a move that could shake up the market.
CyberNews
TikTok hints it have transferred US data to China | China
TikTok, the popular social media app owned by China-based ByteDance, might have transferred US user data to China, FCC Commissioner says.
The Record
How cybercrime remixed the Nigerian Music scene
The economics of Afrobeats, like many things in Nigeria, is tied to the economics of cybercrime.
Bleeping Computer
China's VPN market now open to foreign investment
The central government of China in Beijing has announced a decision to allow foreign entities to invest in the ownership of VPN (virtual private network) services in the country.