TikTok is one of the world's most popular social media apps at the moment with a billion users around the globe.
The app’s sharing feature is a favourite tool of many users who share videos with friends and family.
However, a new report has warned about fake links containing dangerous malware are circulating, reports MirrorOnline.
The Maharashtra Cyber cell has issued a warning about the fake links, which have been spotted on WhatsApp.
It claimed cyber-crooks were creating fake TikTok links 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
Do not click on any links from unusual sources. Meanwhile, if the link comes from a contact, there are several key signs to look out to check if it is fake.
Look for subtle misspellings in the URL - this is a well-known trick to get users 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 includes extra characters.
For example, a scammer might link to www.tiktok.com.scamsite.com instead of simply to www.tiktok.com.
Always check the entire domain name, not just the beginning.
