How Does TikTok Get Hacked? Is It Common?

The bad guys are out there, working hard. They’re trying to hack virtually any computer system or network they can find. TikTok, as one of the world’s leading social media platforms, is always a target — and sometimes, attacks succeed. 

In most cases, though, those hacks are at an individual level, and they usually succeed because a TikTok user got careless or didn’t think. Incidents of the entire system being hacked are quite rare, since most installations the size of TikTok take extreme care to protect their infrastructure and data storage.

It’s also important to remember that large, organized hacker groups often wildly inflate their claims. For example, a supposed TikTok system breach in 2022 never really happened, and many experts are dubious about the extent of 2025 claims by the hacker collective ROOTK1T that they stole millions of TikTok login credentials.

Some TikTok data has been stolen in hacks over the years, but by and large, compromising the platform is exceptionally difficult. Hacking into users’ accounts is much easier.

And there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

How To Prevent Your Account from Hackers

Most of these security measures are nothing more than common sense, but hackers can gain access to or take over TikTok accounts because enough people ignore them.

1. Password Protection Matters

We all have so many passwords to keep track of that it’s easy to just keep using the same ones over and over. That’s a huge mistake; if one system gets hacked, your password on many other apps and websites is up for grabs.

Always use a unique and strong password for your TikTok account, change it often, and never reuse old passwords. Yes, it’s a pain, but you’ll have nothing but regrets if hackers take over your TikTok presence because you didn’t want to be inconvenienced.

2. Don’t Be Fooled

TikTok never contacts you in any way to ask for your account credentials. If you’re trying to change any crucial settings, they’ll only send a confirmation code to your registered phone or email account) that has to be entered back into the app.

Phishing schemes often use emails or DMs to ask users to enter their TikTok usernames and passwords, or to invite them to click on an outside link where account information can be stolen. They may pretend to be TikTok support reps, but they’re just hackers.

3. Don’t Open DMs from People You Don’t Know

There have been reports of hackers gaining access to TikTok accounts (one of them belonged to CNN) just by sending direct messages to users.

Some of the DMs contain links to sites where account information can be stolen, but the reports we’ve mentioned claim that just opening the message can download malware onto your phone or device. To be safe, only respond to or open DMs from people you already know and trust.

4. Be Careful of What You Download

Many hackers accomplish their goal by creating and releasing third-party apps that supposedly make life on TikTok easier or more enjoyable. The apps are designed, though, to access your account and either steal your credentials or take over your presence on the platform.

Before allowing any third-party software to access your account, vet the app and its creator carefully to ensure they’re legitimate and trustworthy. Even apps that aren’t marketed to TikTok users may contain malware that steals all of the social media credentials saved on phones or devices, so the same advice holds for all third-party apps and tools you download.

5. Protect Your Phone and Network Connection as Well

Malware can infiltrate your connected device in a flash.

Visiting suspicious websites, downloading unvetted apps, or even responding to requests for PIN verification can trigger the download of malware onto your phone. Avoiding sites and vendors you don’t know and trust, installing antivirus software (when possible), and always using multi-factor authentication are important steps that help you avoid infection.

Hackers can sneak into your TikTok session if you’re using an unsecured Wi-Fi network, too. Take a few minutes to make sure your regular Internet network has been secured, and avoid using a public network even if you just want to watch TikTok videos while waiting for a food order to be ready.

 

These simple steps may be inconvenient or annoying, but they’re the best weapons you have against a “bad guy” hijacking your TikTok account and making your life a lot more inconvenient and annoying. To put it another way: a smart TikTok user is a happy TikTok user.