Hackers took control of CNN’s TikTok account while targeting several other high-profile TikTok accounts. The nature of the breach, and the group behind it, remains a mystery. The attack is said to have involved direct messaging but was not a phishing attack.
Yahoo reports that Paris Hilton’s account was among those targeted, but the attackers were not successful in gaining control of that account.
Currently, the number of accounts breached remains unknown. TikTok owner Bytedance referred only to “affected account owners” without naming them or stating how many were affected.
On Tuesday night, TikTok told the Associated Press (AP) that the attack had taken place through its direct messaging (DM) feature, but did not share further details on how it was carried out.
A spokesperson for the social media giant told AP that its security team had been recently alerted to “malicious actors targeting CNN’s TikTok account” and the tech firm was working with CNN to restore access and add “enhanced security measures” to protect it
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In a further statement to the PA news agency on Wednesday, a TikTok spokesperson said: “Our security team is aware of a potential exploit targeting a number of high-profile accounts.
“We have taken measures to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future.
“We’re working directly with affected account owners to restore access, if needed.”
As reported by 9to5Mac, a paywalled report on Semafor indicates that the breach “does not appear to be the result of someone gaining access from CNN’s end.”
