Submitted by: Daryl Haegley (CS)²AI Fellow and Director, Mission Assurance & Cyber Deterrence at the DOD
Original Source: https://threatpost.com/spyware-labeled-tiktok-pro-exploits-fears-of-us-ban/159050/
By Elizabeth Montalbano 9/9/20
“Researchers have discovered a new Android spyware campaign pushing a “Pro” version of the TikTok app that is exploiting fears among its young and gullible users that the popular social media app is on the cusp of being banned in the United States. The malware can take over basic device functions—such as capturing photos, reading and sending SMS messages, making calls and launching apps—as well as uses a phishing tactic to steal victims’ Facebook credentials.”
“The rogue app called TikTok Pro is being promoted by threat actors using a variant of a campaign already making the rounds, which urges users via SMS and WhatsApp messages to download the latest version of TikTok from a specific web address, said Zscaler senior security researcher Shivang Desai, in a report published 8 September.”