- Governments worldwide are pushing for the ban of TikTok from government devices, citing threats to national security
- Chinese company ByteDance, the owner and creator of TikTok, believes the ban is premature and has not had the opportunity to answer questions relating to information security
- Haugli explains that default permissions, including location, contacts, media, and more, are required at the time of download – making it possible for ByteDance to store data and metadata that could pose a risk
Deteriorating relationships between China and other world governments have raised concerns about how much data is shared on popular social media apps like TikTok. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, and the default permissions required when downloading the app include location, access to contacts, media, and more. Due to the app’s data collection practices, governments are banning officials from downloading the app on their devices – citing a potential threat to national security.
Brian Haugli, CEO of SideChannel (OTCQB: SDCH), a cybersecurity services and technology provider, recently participated in an interview with Forum Daily’s Nima Rajan, discussing privacy concerns and how to limit the amount of information shared with the app (https://nnw.fm/KlwGB).
The Canadian government has joined the United States in banning TikTok on government devices. China has responded to the bans, saying that it has not been allowed to answer questions or address the security concerns of these governments regarding an app it claims is “beloved by millions.”
Although China has offered to answer questions, Haugli talks about how the company and the country have made little effort to do this. The only good-faith efforts have been to move the data offsite and incorporate Oracle – but they have not exhibited an approach that provides peace of mind regarding the security of the data being collected.
The primary concern, as discussed between Rajan and Haugli, is China’s ability to use the data to track government officials, potentially see classified locations, and access the contact information of anyone associated with the government phone.
During the interview, Haugli pointed out that the default permissions on the app give ByteDance access to critical data and metadata, including where the user is, who they are around, their contacts, and more – making it possible for the company to track user information and store it.
Haugli explained that in most cases, the app is used for entertainment and can continue to be used for those purposes with a little more precaution. Android and Apple users can change the permissions in their app settings and deny TikTok access to critical data points like location, contact lists, etc. Haugli concluded the interview by stating that it is possible to change the permissions granted by default to the app during its download.
SideChannel’s mission is built upon the belief that all enterprises, big or small, can have top-tier security guidance at a manageable cost. The company acknowledges the growing concern of cybersecurity threats, including data theft, hacking, and ransomware, which has grown by more than 600% during the COVID-19 pandemic (https://nnw.fm/AVwJb). These threats have forced industries to embrace new solutions and adapt quickly to the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.
With a team of virtual Chief Information Security Officers (“vCISOs”), SideChannel possesses a combined 400-plus years of experience in cybersecurity. The company has honed its skills and abilities in places like Anthem, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, TD Bank, and the Pentagon. The company lends its talent to clients, creating value through a bespoke cybersecurity program that fits growing enterprises. To date, SideChannel has created over 50 multi-layered programs for its clients.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SideChannel.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SDCH are available in the company’s newsroom at https://nnw.fm/SDCH
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