Kaspersky, a Moscow-based cybersecurity company, was just banned in the U.S. If you use its popular antivirus software, here’s why it’s time to ditch it.
Is TikTok banned? Everything you need to know to protect yourself
TikTok has been under scrutiny for its dangerous privacy practices since its inception, and things are reaching a boiling point.
Rumors of a domestic ban on the China-based video-hosting service have been swirling, and there is some evidence to back them up. Here’s what you need to know.
US government vs. TikTok
Earlier this month, Congress advanced a bill to give President Biden the power to ban TikTok on national security grounds. The Chinese-owned social media platform’s parent company ByteDance is based in Beijing and is required by Chinese law to give the government access to collected data.
TikTok collects search and browsing history, facial ID, voice prints, texts, location and photos. It’s all in black and white as part of TikTok’s privacy policy.
Reuters reports that nine Republicans and nine Democrats have signed on to the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act so far.
There are an estimated 100 million TikTok users in the U.S. alone.
The ban has already started for some sectors of the government
As of now, nearly half our country’s states have a full or partial ban on the use of TikTok by government officials:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
TikTok bans are nothing new here or abroad:
- Members of the U.S. military have been banned from using TikTok on military-issued devices for some time.
- In February, Canada announced it was banning TikTok on government mobile devices. The U.K., New Zealand, Belgium, Taiwan, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan have done the same.
- News agencies like the BBC have instructed employees to delete TikTok from their devices. In December, Forbes reported that several ByteDance employees had been fired for spying on journalists.
Tech with ties to China: What to avoid
Color me surprised that TikTok hasn’t been banned in the U.S. yet. Can’t stop using it? Take this simple step to keep your data from going back to China.
It’s not just apps. More than a third of the world’s electronics are produced in China. There’s a difference between products made in China and those made by companies with ties to the Communist Chinese government.
How to change emergency alert settings on your phone
Modern smartphones come with built-in tools in case of emergency. It’s not always easy (or possible) to alert your loved ones when the unexpected happens, but thanks to Emergency SOS, you can put those fears to rest. Tap or click here for steps on enabling this vital setting on your phone.
Data-hungry apps: These are the worst for your privacy
Big Tech is always after your data, and that’s especially bad when it affects national security. TikTok has been accused of spying and sending U.S. data to China. Tap or click here to keep your info safe.
Facebook, Instagram, PayPal, YouTube, eBay, Google, and TikTok. These are some of the biggest names in tech, with billions of active users worldwide. You likely have accounts with some or all of these companies. Did you read the fine print before agreeing to their privacy policies? Most people don’t.
Using Kaspersky's VPN? Here's how to remove it from your PC, Mac or phone
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows no signs of slowing down, hundreds of international companies are enacting various trade bans or sanctions on the country. Companies like Microsoft, Google and Apple stopped operations or pulled their products from Russian shelves.
You should remove Russian-based Kaspersky antivirus from your computer - Here's how
You must have antivirus software on your devices to protect against malware and phishing attacks. But there are now fears that the Kremlin could turn one of the most popular Russian antivirus programs into a tool of war. As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues the invasion of Ukraine, there are worrying signs that the battle could shift from ground troops to cyberattacks.
Two countries could have your voting records - Watch for fake emails
It finally happened. After months of warnings, foreign attempts at election interference have been detected by American intelligence agencies. And unlike in 2016, these efforts go beyond simple Facebook memes and hacked documents.
Critical' Windows bug prompts emergency warning from government
Have you updated Windows recently and experienced any new bugs? Odds are you aren’t alone, and at this point in time, it almost seems like bugs are part and parcel of using a PC these days.
Why so many bugs? It’s because software updates have to come out fast enough to stay one step ahead of hackers. This means old bugs are sometimes replaced with new ones as the cycle continues. Tap or click here to see just how many bugs were addressed in Microsoft’s latest patch Tuesday update.
Yikes! Don't try these dangerous DIY hacks spreading on social media
There’s been a good deal of controversy surrounding TikTok in recent weeks. On one hand, the app is more popular than it’s ever been, and may even surpass other social networking sites in the near future. On the other hand, it’s on the chopping block thanks to an executive order from the President of the United States himself.
TikTok: Is the video-sharing app a national security threat?
If there’s one app that’s defined social media for the past few years, it’s TikTok. Originally designed for sharing videos of karaoke and dancing, the app has skyrocketed to success as a fun, short video platform beloved by Generation Z.