To be clear, we're not talking about TikTok-- one of the most used video-sharing social networking service app in the world-- but the emerging video and voice calling app named ToTok. And if you're one of the many users of the said application, you might as well delete it right now, or something might happen, and believe me, you will not like it.
Introducing ToTok and How it Can Get Your Information
As first mentioned in an article on the New York Times, a specific chat application available to be downloaded around the world has been featuring a threatening message to all of its users. According to the news site, ToTok-- a social messaging app from the United Arab Emirates-- disguises itself as a messaging app. However, it is also rumored to be a 'spying app.'
In UAE, this app was one of the most downloaded apps in the country. Since American messaging apps like WhatsApp or Skype are currently banned from being used in the place, citizens from UAE can only access ToTok as their main messaging app on the internet.
If you take a look at the app itself-- based on New York Times article-- it seemed to be normal at first. Just like the common messaging apps around the world, it offers unlimited calls that have high quality without any charges being sent to its users. In fact, ToTok claimed to have a 'fast, free, and secure' messaging app for everyone.
With its commonality with other messaging apps, Americans also tend to be entertained with ToTok. Google Play Store reported that it earned five million downloads in the country alone, and App Annie says that ToTok became one of the most downloaded apps on online app stores for the last week in the US.
So, if you're one of the downloaders of this app, should you be worried? The US government thinks so.
How Dangerous ToTok Can be
As reported in NYT, with the help of some US intelligence officials, ToTok is using the app as a front in order to get information from its users-- whether personal or controversial information. Many believed that this app is a 'surveillance tool' for the UAE for them to follow users' conversations, track locations, determine social connections, and look at their different social media accounts.
"There is a beauty in this approach. You don't need to hack people to spy on them if you can get people to download this app to their phone willingly. By uploading contacts, video chats, location, what more intelligence do you need?" said security researcher Patrick Wardle, who conducted an independent forensic analysis of ToTok.
Apple and Google Play Store Removes ToTok
As a warning to all users of the said messaging app, Apple and Google Play Store already removed ToTok on their stores to prevent the spread of the said app.
An FBI official was also asked by NYT on the implications of ToTok for most of its users but refused to comment and only said that "...we always want to make sure to make users aware of the potential risks and vulnerabilities that these mechanisms can pose."
