Hacking TikTok in 2025: How Does a TikTok Hack Actually Happen?

In 2025, the number of TikTok hack incidents has skyrocketed, putting millions of users at risk of identity theft and data breaches. As the platform’s popularity continues to soar, hacking TikTok has become a growing focus for cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities. From phishing attacks to weak login credentials, hackers are constantly finding new ways of hacking TikTok accounts.

Whether you’re trying to understand how a TikTok hack happens or looking to avoid falling into the trap of those searching for “how to hack TikTok,” it’s essential to know how attackers operate.

In this article, we’ll break down how a TikTok hack typically occurs, explore the most common hack TikTok techniques, and share practical tips to help you stay protected.

What is the TikTok Hack?

A TikTok hack refers to any situation where someone gains unauthorized access to your TikTok account. This often happens through phishing scams, fake login pages, or weak, reused passwords. In some cases, attackers even use leaked credentials from other platforms to break into accounts — a tactic known as credential stuffing.

You might see online searches for how to hack TikTok, but these aren’t harmless tricks. They're often tied to illegal activity and can cause serious harm. Whether it’s a personal account, a creator’s profile, or a brand page, the damage from a TikTok hack can include lost content, privacy breaches, and damaged reputations.

Once a hacker gets in, they can lock you out by changing your email, phone number, or password, making recovery difficult. From there, they might send malicious messages, promote scam giveaways, or even impersonate you to target your followers. In some cases, hacked TikTok accounts are sold on dark web marketplaces.

What makes hacking TikTok accounts especially dangerous is how quickly it spreads. TikTok’s viral nature means that just one post from a compromised account can reach thousands — or millions — of people. That’s why it’s important to stay vigilant, understand the tactics hackers use, and take steps to protect your account before it’s compromised.

Why TikTok Is a Prime Target in 2025

Before we dive into the facts and figures, remember that cyber-criminals follow the biggest crowds and the deepest data wells. TikTok in 2025 delivers both: a record-breaking user base that spends more than an hour a day on the platform, a trove of biometric and location details tied to real money flows, and a swirl of political pressure that can delay or distract defensive work.

Put simply, attackers see TikTok as the perfect storm of scale, value, and vulnerability—exactly the kind of target they rush to exploit:

Explosive Growth & Wall-to-Wall Engagement

TikTok surged past 1.8–1.9 billion monthly active users in Q1 2025 (over 150 million in the U.S. alone) and now logs 1.12 billion daily users. The average person opens the app eight times and spends ≈ 95 minutes every day watching videos—more screen-time than any other social platform. That ever-present, global audience gives criminals both scale and round-the-clock opportunity for everything from mass-phishing to supply-chain malware drops. 

A Honeypot of High-Value Data

Each short clip conceals a rich payload of information. TikTok’s own privacy policy confirms it “may collect biometric identifiers such as faceprints and voiceprints,” alongside granular device, contact and precise location data—all prized by fraudsters for deep-fake identity theft and doxxing campaigns. Add to this the fast-growing Creator Rewards/Pulse monetization pools, which TikTok says boosted total creator payouts 250 % in six months, and a hijacked account can yield both sellable data and direct cash flows. The result: TikTok profiles have become high-ROI targets rivaling online-banking logins.   

Intensifying Regulatory Spotlight

Governments on both sides of the Atlantic have tightened the screws. In the U.S., the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act—upheld by the Supreme Court—forces ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban on 19 January 2025, with hefty fines for any app-store that ignores the order. Meanwhile, Europe raised the stakes in May 2025 when Ireland’s Data Protection Commission leveled a €530 million GDPR fine for routing EU user data to China without adequate safeguards, ordering TikTok to fix transfers within six months. This twin pressure cooker keeps the platform—and any exploitable weakness—under relentless public and governmental scrutiny, which in turn spurs attackers to strike before defenses, or divestiture, harden.  

Why Is TikTok Security Important for Every User?

As TikTok’s user base continues to expand, so does the risk of cyber threats. Falling victim to a hack TikTok incident isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it can result in identity theft, stolen personal data, or even financial loss, especially for creators and businesses. From weak passwords to overlooked privacy settings, cybercriminals are constantly hacking TikTok accounts using various methods.

A TikTok hack can happen to anyone, making account security essential for every user. Protecting your TikTok account isn’t just about keeping your videos safe—it’s about defending your entire digital identity. Enabling two-factor authentication is a strong first step, but staying ahead of threats requires ongoing vigilance and awareness.

For more details, check out the Keepnet Security Awareness Podcast episode exploring how TikTok hacks happen and what makes accounts vulnerable in 2025.

How do Criminals Hack Tiktok?

With over a billion users worldwide, TikTok has become a prime target for cybercriminals. From phishing scams to credential stuffing, hackers are using increasingly clever techniques to hijack accounts. In this section, we’ll explore the most common ways TikTok accounts hacked.

Phishing Attacks

Hackers often impersonate TikTok or well-known brands to lure users into providing their login credentials. Phishing emails may direct users to a fake login page, or they may come as direct messages within the app, asking for sensitive details under false pretenses.

TikTok users must be aware of the different tactics used in phishing campaigns. As noted in a recent phishing-based data breach, even high-level companies can fall victim to these tactics. This highlights how critical user education is in avoiding scams.

Brute Force Attacks

With weak or reused passwords, hackers can perform brute force attacks to guess login credentials. If your password is weak, it’s only a matter of time before it’s cracked.

Malware & Spyware

Malicious software can steal data from your phone, including TikTok login information. One such example is the rise of Android malware like SOVA banking malware, which is capable of stealing app credentials and even performing ransomware attacks.

Exploiting Weak Privacy Settings

Many users don’t adjust their TikTok privacy settings properly, leaving them exposed to threats. Hackers can exploit these loose settings to gather personal information and engage in social engineering attacks.

Real Life TikTok Hack Incidents

As we have already discussed the mechanics of how to hack TikTok above, let's discuss in Tiktok hacking events that actually happened. The platform has already suffered headline-grabbing compromises—from zero-day exploits that hijacked celebrity accounts to mass-phishing waves aimed at small creators.

Each incident below paints a real-world picture of the tactics, vulnerabilities, and fallout, offering valuable lessons for anyone who wants to keep their own profile off the next front-page breach list:

2024 TikTok Zero-Day Exploit

In June 2024, a significant security breach on TikTok was reported, involving a zero-day exploit that targeted high-profile accounts. This incident was detailed in multiple sources, including Forbes: "A Zero Day TikTok Hack Is Taking Over Celebrity And Brand Accounts" and TIME: "TikTok Hackers Target Paris Hilton, CNN, and More. What to Know About the Cyberattack". The exploit allowed hackers to compromise accounts by sending malicious code through direct messages (DMs), requiring only that the recipient open the message, with no further action needed.

Affected Accounts:

• Paris Hilton, a celebrity, was targeted but her account was not compromised.
• CNN, a well-known media organization, had its official TikTok account compromised.
• Sony, a brand, was also targeted, though as a company, it fits less strictly under "famous peoples" but is noted for completeness.

Details: TikTok’s security team identified the exploit and took measures to stop the attack, working directly with affected account owners to restore access if needed. The company stated that only a "very small" number of accounts were compromised, though exact figures were not disclosed. CNN collaborated closely with TikTok to enhance security measures and restore access.

Impact: This incident raised concerns about TikTok’s ability to protect high-profile users, especially given the ease of the attack method. It also occurred amidst U.S. government actions, such as a 2024 bill requiring ByteDance to divest or face a ban, highlighting broader security and geopolitical tensions .

2025 Kai Cenat TikTok Hack

In February 2025, Kai Cenat, a popular streamer and YouTuber with over 17 million followers on TikTok, experienced a hack that resulted in the deletion of all his videos, which collectively had over 132 million likes. This incident was widely reported across multiple platforms, including Sportskeeda: "Kai Cenat responds after his TikTok account with over 130 million likes got hacked", GameRant: "Kai Cenat TikTok Account Hacked", and social media discussions on X, such as an X post by @FearedBuck .

Affected Individual: Kai Cenat, known for his streaming content and significant social media presence.

Details: During a Twitch stream on February 21, 2025, Cenat announced that his TikTok account had been hacked, advising followers not to click on any links from his compromised account. Despite having two-step verification enabled, he expressed frustration and confusion about how the breach occurred. TikTok worked to restore his account, and the videos were eventually reinstated, recovering the lost likes. The hacker group "Sava" was later implicated in this and subsequent hacks of Cenat’s other accounts, though specific methods were not detailed in the reports.

Impact: This incident underscored the vulnerability of even secured accounts and highlighted the rapid response needed to mitigate damage for high-profile users. It also sparked discussions on social media about TikTok’s security measures, with Cenat later enhancing his account security with additional authentication methods.

Additional Cases

Several other reports and articles were reviewed but did not meet the criteria for inclusion. For instance, a 2023 incident involving 700,000 Turkish TikTok accounts was noted, but no famous individuals were specified . Articles about hacking the TikTok algorithm were also common but irrelevant to account security breaches. (Source)

The investigation also considered broader TikTok security concerns, such as a 2023 UK fine for privacy violations and reports of Chinese access to American user data, but these did not involve specific hacks of famous people’s accounts

How Can You Protect Your TikTok Account from Being Hacked?

To protect yourself from a TikTok account hack, you need to adopt a layered security approach. This includes securing your account settings, updating your password policies, and staying vigilant about potential threats. Here’s what you can do:

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

Avoid using simple, easy-to-guess passwords. Tools like password managers can help you create and store strong, unique passwords. The importance of password strength is often underestimated, but it plays a vital role in keeping hackers at bay. Consider reviewing some tips on password protection intelligence to avoid this common pitfall.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication on TikTok adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification. This means that even if someone steals your password, they will need access to your phone or email to log in. 2FA is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to secure your account.

Be Aware of Phishing Scams

Stay cautious of suspicious emails, texts, or DMs, especially those asking for login details. Always verify the legitimacy of requests and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Phishing has become a leading threat vector, not just for TikTok, but for all digital accounts. Learning to identify phishing emails can save you from significant trouble—here’s a guide on recognizing phishing emails that can help.

Monitor App Permissions

Regularly check what permissions you've granted to TikTok and other apps on your phone. This will reduce the risk of apps accessing your personal data without your consent, as highlighted in mobile device security.

What Are the Best Practices to Prevent TikTok Hack?

TikTok users can minimize security risks by following best practices that go beyond just securing passwords. Here are a few expert-recommended measures:

Regularly Review Your Privacy Settings

Ensure that your privacy settings on TikTok limit who can view your content, send you messages, and interact with your account. Set your account to private, control your comments, and restrict duets and stitches to avoid exposing yourself to unwanted interactions or threats.

Update Your Software

Make sure both TikTok and your mobile device's operating system are always updated to the latest version. Security patches often address vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to breach systems, so it’s crucial to stay ahead with updated software.

Be Mindful of Third-Party Apps

Avoid using third-party apps or services that promise to increase your followers or likes. These can often be a trap where malicious actors gain access to your account. If you're unsure about app safety, learn more about how certain apps can compromise your privacy, like in-app browsers tracking user activity.

Enable Account Recovery Options

Ensure you have recovery options like email or phone number verification activated. This makes it easier to regain access to your account if you suspect it’s been hacked.

Stay Informed

Security awareness is your best defense. Stay updated with the latest cybersecurity news and trends affecting TikTok and social platforms. For example, the evolution of security awareness shows how threats are constantly evolving, making it essential for users to remain vigilant.

Further Reading:

• The Importance of Password Protection Intelligence
• Securing Mobile Devices
• Email Security: 7 Biggest Threats
• SOVA Android Banking Malware
• How to Protect Your Business Against Ransomware
• Phishing Email Examples to Avoid in 2025
• The Importance of Collaborative Defense in Cybersecurity
• Understanding Smishing: The Growing Threat
• Ransomware and SMEs: How Vulnerable Are Small Businesses?

Editor’s Note: This blog was updated on June 18, 2025.