Tiktok security risk

CP5670

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2004
5,508
586
126
I avoid using apps for anything that has a website. It's much easier to control data access and script usage on a website than an app.
 
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ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
37,733
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While on the Internet, every user is vulnerable. You can't be 100% safe no matter your social network.

I dont Think anyone has really argued otherwise.

however, a user can take steps to reduce risk, such as not using apps that have been revealed as being riskier than others, like TikTok
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
67,197
12,025
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www.anyf.ca
I pretty much don't trust any apps or stock OS of any smart phone, they are built from ground up for spying on us. Smart phones are black boxes, too hard to really know what's even going on behind the scenes and they have lot of sensors like mic, camera, gyro etc that can all be used to spy on our environment, but they also have sensitive info such as our phone number and contacts.

I run a custom rom myself so can't install these apps even if I wanted to as I don't have a Play store. Unfortunately more and more things seem to require apps now which is making it harder to use a custom rom or not have a smart phone at all. I've ran into routers that require an app just to configure it! And these are ISP modem/router combos so you don't have a choice but to use it. If you want to travel outside of Canada you also need to install government software on your phone. Our local taxi company has also moved to an app only approach. I hate this trend so much. Just make this stuff a regular website instead so it's device agnostic.
 

bononos

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2011
3,883
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I pretty much don't trust any apps or stock OS of any smart phone, they are built from ground up for spying on us. Smart phones are black boxes, too hard to really know what's even going on behind the scenes and they have lot of sensors like mic, camera, gyro etc that can all be used to spy on our environment, but they also have sensitive info such as our phone number and contacts.
.......

There are separate contact apps that don't sync with google or you can select individual contacts which you want to sync. I'm not sure but Samsung's secure folder might be a way to isolate dodgy apps.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,244
10,748
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Interesting, what other apps should I be worried about grabbing clipboard info


Fair question.... I would keep it in mind for ALL of them. :oops:

Best bet is any app you don't use at least once or twice a week should be uninstalled until needed again. (especially on mobile devices)

Further if you use Android be extremely careful granting "permissions" like "precise location" and be sure they're set to automatically "revoke" after a period of inactivity.

It pains me to say this but 95% of "free" apps have some ulterior-motive and it usually involves relieving folks of their information and/or money.
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
67,197
12,025
126
www.anyf.ca
It's probably safe to assume they all do it. Coding an app is a lot of work compared to a web site and most of these apps could easily be a website. So to me the only incentive for putting in that work is that they are making tons of money selling user info as apps have more granular access to your private information and sensors such as mic, camera, GPS etc.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
37,733
18,003
146
Grabbing clipboard data and sending it to a remote server isn’t quite the same as location data afaic.

I can manage location permissions relatively ez, there’s not an option to disable copying clipboard data