With over one billion users around the world, TikTok is without a doubt one of the most popular social media apps at the moment.
If you use TikTok, you may use the app’s sharing feature to share funny videos with your friends and family.
However, a new report has warned about fake TikTok links that are circulating, that contain dangerous malware.
The Maharashtra Cyber cell has released a warning about the fake links, which have been spotted on WhatsApp this week.
Speaking to PTI, an official from Maharashtra Cyber said the department had found that cyber-crooks were creating fake TikTok links containing malware that can steal data from the user.
According to Paul Bischoff, a privacy advocate at comparitech.com, this is a variation of a very common cyber-attack.
He explained: “This is a variation of a very common attack in which attackers lure victims into clicking on links that seem legitimate, but in fact lead to phishing pages or malware downloads.
“Because TikTok is popular, many people will click on links without a second thought.”
How to spot a fake TikTok link
First and foremost, if you receive a link from someone you don’t know, do not click on it.
Mr Bischoff said: “Remember: never click on links in unsolicited messages.”
Meanwhile, if the link comes from a contact, there are several key signs to look out for if you’re worried it might be fake.
When you’re looking at the URL, look for subtle misspellings - this is a well-known trick to get you to click a fake link.
For example, the link may be to ‘TikTik’, rather than ‘TikTok’, for example.
Other fake links use a domain name that begins the same as the name you expect, but include extra characters.
For example, a scammer might link to www.tiktok.com.scamsite.com instead of simply to www.tiktok.com.
Always make sure you check the entire domain name, not just the beginning.
