Security News > 2020 > September > Spyware Labeled ‘TikTok Pro’ Exploits Fears of U.S. Ban

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 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 Tuesday.

President Trump has threatened to ban in the app in the United States and several U.S. companies-including Microsoft and Wal-Mart-are eyeing a purchase of the app.

"Users looking forward to using the TikTok app amidst the ban might look for alternative methods to download the app," Desai wrote in his report.

To check to see if the new spyware is running undetected on an Android device, users can search for the app in device settings by going to ​​​​​​Settings -> Apps -> Search for icon that was hidden and search for "TikTok Pro," Desai advised.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/spyware-labeled-tiktok-pro-exploits-fears-of-us-ban/159050/