After internal testing, Microsoft discovered an exploit in the Android version of TikTok that could have given attackers access to huge amounts of personal data with a single click.
The vulnerability has already been fixed, and it does not appear that anyone has been affected by the exploit. The attackers could have used this vulnerability to access user profiles, allowing outside forces to publicize private videos, send messages, and even upload videos.
The exploit took advantage of the way TikTok handles WebView code by bypassing deep link verification. When a TikTok user selects an affected deep link, the URL could access JavaScript bridges that granted attackers functionality on the account. JavaScript bridges continue to pose a security risk on a variety of apps, and Microsoft, in a blog post, emphasized how “… collaboration within the security community is necessary to improve defenses for the overall digital ecosystem.”
The exploit could have affected over 1.5 billion TikTok installations from the Google Play Store.
The vulnerability is actually a combination of several issues that, when combined together, could give attackers access to these accounts. Microsoft details all of its findings and how it discovered the exploit in its in-depth blog post.
When Microsoft notified TikTok’s security team of the issue, they “responded by releasing a fix to address the reported vulnerability, now identified as CVE-2022-28799, and users can refer to the CVE entry for more information. We commend the efficient and professional resolution from TikTok’s security team.”
News of this exploit comes on the heels of frequent reports of TikTok’s excessive data collection. Hopefully, this quick patch reflects how seriously the company takes user data and privacy. Microsoft and TikTok both recommend you double-check to make sure you are on the latest version of the app to avoid any issues.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.