ByteDance Company Cyber Security Posture
bytedance.comByteDance is a global incubator of platforms at the cutting edge of commerce, content, entertainment and enterprise services - over 2.5bn people interact with ByteDance products including TikTok. Creation is the core of ByteDance's purpose. Our products are built to help imaginations thrive. This is doubly true of the teams that make our innovations possible. Together, we inspire creativity and enrich life - a mission we aim towards achieving every day. At ByteDance, we create together and grow together. That's how we drive impact - for ourselves, our company, and the users we serve. We are committed to building a safe, healthy and positive online environment for all our users. We have over 110,000 employees based in more than 30 countries globally. Join us.
ByteDance Company Details
bytedance
43669 employees
1151570.0
511
Software Development
bytedance.com
Scan still pending
BYT_2324001
In-progress
ByteDance Risk Score (AI oriented)Between 900 and 1000
This score is AI-generated and less favored by cyber insurers, who prefer the TPRM score.
ByteDance Global Score.png)
ByteDance Company Scoring based on AI Models
| Model Name | Date | Description | Current Score Difference | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVERAGE-Industry | 03-12-2025 | This score represents the average cybersecurity rating of companies already scanned within the same industry. It provides a benchmark to compare an individual company's security posture against its industry peers. | N/A | Between 900 and 1000 |
ByteDance Company Cyber Security News & History
| Entity | Type | Severity | Impact | Seen | Url ID | Details | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | Breach | 100 | 5 | 09/2022 | TIK213327922 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization's existenceDescription: Popular short-form video sharing platform TikTok suffered a data security incident after a hacker group, AgainstTheWest gained access to an internal cloud server containing its source code and user information. The accessed database was hosted on a Alibaba cloud instance, and hold over 2 billion records in a 790 GB database containing user data, platform statistics, software code, cookies, auth tokens, server info, and more. | |||||||
| TikTok | Breach | 100 | 5 | 1/2025 | TIK000012025 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization’s existenceDescription: TikTok faced a substantial operational disruption in the United States due to the enactment of the PAFACA law, leading to its removal from app stores and ceasing its function on millions of devices. The consequence was a ban on updates and new content, pushing users to look for alternatives like Xiaohongshu. Despite being non-operational, the app wasn't forcibly removed from phones, and users could potentially circumvent the ban. The action implicated significant implications for TikTok's market presence, affected its user base, and raised questions about compliance and corporate strategy in response to political regulations. | |||||||
| TikTok | Breach | 85 | 4 | 5/2025 | TIK717053025 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack with significant impact with customers data leaksDescription: A threat actor known as 'Often9' has claimed to possess 428 million unique TikTok user records, including sensitive information such as email addresses, mobile phone numbers, and internal account flags. The data's legitimacy is questionable due to the presence of empty or generic fields in the sample entries and the lack of reputation of the seller. Previous claims of TikTok data breaches have been denied by the company. | |||||||
| TikTok | Cyber Attack | 100 | 5 | 1/2025 | TIK000011025 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization’s existenceDescription: Should the US Supreme Court uphold the ban on TikTok as determined by the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), the video-sharing social networking service faces an unprecedented technological clampdown in the US. This potential ban may result in significant economic impact, affecting around 170 million American users, including influencers and businesses that rely on the app for income and promotion. The ruling will hinge on weighing national security risks against First Amendment rights, with implications for online expression, economic factors, and potential data privacy concerns due to the app’s Chinese ownership. | |||||||
| ByteDance | Cyber Attack | 100 | 5 | 1/2025 | BYT000012225 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the organization’s existenceDescription: ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, faced a significant operational loss as the app was banned in the United States. This resulted in the app's removal from major app stores and impeded its ability to function or receive updates, effectively disabling access for millions of users. The ban, driven by the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), while not making the app illegal, has created a substantial barrier for ByteDance's TikTok in the US market. With users flocking to alternate platforms and seeking workarounds such as VPNs, the app's future in the US remains uncertain, with the impact yet to be fully quantified. | |||||||
| TikTok | Vulnerability | 100 | 6 | 1/2025 | TIK001011525 | Link | |
Rankiteo Explanation : Attack threatening the economy of geographical regionDescription: The potential ban of TikTok in the United States represents a significant move that could undermine the company's economic stance within the region. With over 170 million users in the US, the ban would not only cause a loss of influence and market but also affect countless influencers and businesses that rely on the app for income and promotion. While no data breach or attack is explicitly mentioned, the perception of national security threats could damage TikTok's reputation, and a forced sale or ban by PAFACA could disrupt the app's operations, creating financial and reputational consequences. | |||||||
ByteDance Company Subsidiaries
ByteDance is a global incubator of platforms at the cutting edge of commerce, content, entertainment and enterprise services - over 2.5bn people interact with ByteDance products including TikTok. Creation is the core of ByteDance's purpose. Our products are built to help imaginations thrive. This is doubly true of the teams that make our innovations possible. Together, we inspire creativity and enrich life - a mission we aim towards achieving every day. At ByteDance, we create together and grow together. That's how we drive impact - for ourselves, our company, and the users we serve. We are committed to building a safe, healthy and positive online environment for all our users. We have over 110,000 employees based in more than 30 countries globally. Join us.
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ByteDance Cyber Security News
UNLV Experts: Examining the TikTok Ban and Its Implications
Lawmakers are evaluating whether TikTok poses a legitimate cybersecurity risk and if broader digital privacy protections are necessary for all ...
National Security and the TikTok Ban
TikTok, an app used by 170 million Americans, has been in the eye of a political hurricane several times over the past few years.
DeepSeek's ByteDance Data-Sharing Raises Fresh Security Concerns
Security researchers are sounding the alarm over the use of DeepSeek across organizations after a South Korean data protection agency reported ...
Canada Orders TikTok to Shut Down Canadian Operations Over Security Concerns
The Canadian government on Wednesday ordered ByteDance-owned TikTok to dissolve its operations in the country, citing national security risks, ...
ByteDance AI chip access strategy questions export control effectiveness
The move represents one of the latest attempts by Chinese technology companies to maintain access to cutting-edge AI hardware despite US export ...
Huawei and ByteDance plan major investments in tech sectors in Brazil
The moves in AI and cloud infrastructure may deepen US concerns about China's growing digital presence in Latin America.
TikTok’s fate is in Trump’s hands as the Supreme Court rules ban can move ahead
The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law that will ban social media app TikTok from the U.S. on Sunday just as president-elect Donald Trump is ...
South Korea Confirm DeepSeek Sending Data Chinese ByteDance Servers
South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced today that the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek transmitted sensitive user ...
DeepSeek's app for iOS is sending unencrypted data to ByteDance's Chinese servers
DeepSeek, the AI chatbot rapidly gaining popularity as a competitor to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, is under fire for allegedly sending ...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
ByteDance CyberSecurity History Information
How many cyber incidents has ByteDance faced?
Total Incidents: According to Rankiteo, ByteDance has faced 6 incidents in the past.
What types of cybersecurity incidents have occurred at ByteDance?
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Breach, Vulnerability and Cyber Attack.
Incident Details
Can you provide details on each incident?
Incident : Data Breach
Title: TikTok 2025 Breach – 428M Unique Lines
Description: A newly emerged threat actor, going by the alias “Often9,” has posted on a prominent cybercrime and database trading forum, claiming to possess 428 million unique TikTok user records.
Date Detected: 2025-05-29
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Unauthorized access, possibly through internal systems or third-party database
Threat Actor: Often9
Motivation: Financial gain
Incident : Operational Disruption
Title: TikTok Ban in the United States
Description: ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, faced a significant operational loss as the app was banned in the United States. This resulted in the app's removal from major app stores and impeded its ability to function or receive updates, effectively disabling access for millions of users. The ban, driven by the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), while not making the app illegal, has created a substantial barrier for ByteDance's TikTok in the US market. With users flocking to alternate platforms and seeking workarounds such as VPNs, the app's future in the US remains uncertain, with the impact yet to be fully quantified.
Type: Operational Disruption
Motivation: Regulatory Compliance
Incident : Operational Disruption
Title: TikTok Operational Disruption Due to PAFACA Law
Description: TikTok faced a substantial operational disruption in the United States due to the enactment of the PAFACA law, leading to its removal from app stores and ceasing its function on millions of devices. The consequence was a ban on updates and new content, pushing users to look for alternatives like Xiaohongshu. Despite being non-operational, the app wasn't forcibly removed from phones, and users could potentially circumvent the ban. The action implicated significant implications for TikTok's market presence, affected its user base, and raised questions about compliance and corporate strategy in response to political regulations.
Type: Operational Disruption
Motivation: Legal Compliance
Incident : Regulatory Action
Title: Potential Ban of TikTok in the United States
Description: The potential ban of TikTok in the United States represents a significant move that could undermine the company's economic stance within the region. With over 170 million users in the US, the ban would not only cause a loss of influence and market but also affect countless influencers and businesses that rely on the app for income and promotion. While no data breach or attack is explicitly mentioned, the perception of national security threats could damage TikTok's reputation, and a forced sale or ban by PAFACA could disrupt the app's operations, creating financial and reputational consequences.
Type: Regulatory Action
Threat Actor: US Government
Motivation: National Security Concerns
Incident : Regulatory Ban
Title: Potential Ban on TikTok in the US
Description: The US Supreme Court is considering a ban on TikTok as determined by the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA). This potential ban could lead to significant economic impact, affecting around 170 million American users, including influencers and businesses that rely on the app for income and promotion. The ruling will weigh national security risks against First Amendment rights, with implications for online expression, economic factors, and potential data privacy concerns due to the app’s Chinese ownership.
Type: Regulatory Ban
Motivation: National Security Risks
Incident : Data Breach
Title: TikTok Data Security Incident
Description: TikTok suffered a data security incident after a hacker group, AgainstTheWest, gained access to an internal cloud server containing its source code and user information.
Type: Data Breach
Attack Vector: Unauthorized Access to Cloud Server
Threat Actor: AgainstTheWest
What are the most common types of attacks the company has faced?
Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Breach.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the impact of each incident?
Incident : Data Breach TIK717053025
Data Compromised: Email addresses, Mobile phone numbers, Biography, avatar URLs, and profile links, TikTok user IDs, usernames, and nicknames, Account flags like private_account, secret, verified, and ttSeller status, Publicly visible metrics such as follower counts, following counts, like counts, video counts, digg counts, and friend counts
Incident : Operational Disruption BYT000012225
Systems Affected: TikTok App
Operational Impact: App removal from app stores, Disabled access for millions of users
Incident : Operational Disruption TIK000012025
Systems Affected: App Stores, User Devices
Downtime: Indefinite
Operational Impact: Significant
Brand Reputation Impact: Significant
Legal Liabilities: Potential
Incident : Regulatory Action TIK001011525
Operational Impact: Potential disruption of app operations
Revenue Loss: Potential loss of influence and market
Brand Reputation Impact: Damage to TikTok's reputation
Incident : Data Breach TIK213327922
Data Compromised: user data, platform statistics, software code, cookies, auth tokens, server info
Systems Affected: Internal cloud server
What types of data are most commonly compromised in incidents?
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Email addresses, Mobile phone numbers, Biography, avatar URLs, and profile links, TikTok user IDs, usernames, and nicknames, Account flags like private_account, secret, verified, and ttSeller status, Publicly visible metrics such as follower counts, following counts, like counts, video counts, digg counts, and friend counts, user data, platform statistics, software code, cookies, auth tokens and server info.
Which entities were affected by each incident?
Incident : Data Breach TIK717053025
Entity Type: Social Media Platform
Industry: Social Media
Customers Affected: 428000000
Incident : Operational Disruption BYT000012225
Entity Type: Company
Industry: Technology
Location: Global
Customers Affected: Millions of users
Incident : Operational Disruption TIK000012025
Entity Type: Company
Industry: Social Media
Location: United States
Customers Affected: Millions
Incident : Regulatory Action TIK001011525
Entity Type: Social Media Platform
Industry: Technology
Location: Global
Size: Large
Customers Affected: 170 million users in the US
Incident : Regulatory Ban TIK000011025
Entity Type: Social Networking Service
Industry: Technology
Location: Global
Customers Affected: 170 million American users
Data Breach Information
What type of data was compromised in each breach?
Incident : Data Breach TIK717053025
Type of Data Compromised: Email addresses, Mobile phone numbers, Biography, avatar URLs, and profile links, TikTok user IDs, usernames, and nicknames, Account flags like private_account, secret, verified, and ttSeller status, Publicly visible metrics such as follower counts, following counts, like counts, video counts, digg counts, and friend counts
Number of Records Exposed: 428000000
Sensitivity of Data: Medium to High
Incident : Data Breach TIK213327922
Type of Data Compromised: user data, platform statistics, software code, cookies, auth tokens, server info
Number of Records Exposed: 2 billion
Regulatory Compliance
Were there any regulatory violations and fines imposed for each incident?
Incident : Operational Disruption BYT000012225
Regulations Violated: Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA)
Incident : Operational Disruption TIK000012025
Regulations Violated: PAFACA Law
References
Where can I find more information about each incident?
Incident : Data Breach TIK717053025
Source: Hackread.com
Where can stakeholders find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices?
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Hackread.com.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the investigation for each incident?
Incident : Data Breach TIK717053025
Investigation Status: Ongoing
Initial Access Broker
How did the initial access broker gain entry for each incident?
Incident : Data Breach TIK717053025
Post-Incident Analysis
What were the root causes and corrective actions taken for each incident?
Incident : Operational Disruption TIK000012025
Root Causes: Enactment of PAFACA Law
Additional Questions
General Information
Who was the attacking group in the last incident?
Last Attacking Group: The attacking group in the last incident were an Often9, US Government and AgainstTheWest.
Incident Details
What was the most recent incident detected?
Most Recent Incident Detected: The most recent incident detected was on 2025-05-29.
Impact of the Incidents
What was the most significant data compromised in an incident?
Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were Email addresses, Mobile phone numbers, Biography, avatar URLs, and profile links, TikTok user IDs, usernames, and nicknames, Account flags like private_account, secret, verified, and ttSeller status, Publicly visible metrics such as follower counts, following counts, like counts, video counts, digg counts, and friend counts, user data, platform statistics, software code, cookies, auth tokens and server info.
What was the most significant system affected in an incident?
Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident were TikTok App and App Stores, User Devices and Internal cloud server.
Data Breach Information
What was the most sensitive data compromised in a breach?
Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were Email addresses, Mobile phone numbers, Biography, avatar URLs, and profile links, TikTok user IDs, usernames, and nicknames, Account flags like private_account, secret, verified, and ttSeller status, Publicly visible metrics such as follower counts, following counts, like counts, video counts, digg counts, and friend counts, user data, platform statistics, software code, cookies, auth tokens and server info.
What was the number of records exposed in the most significant breach?
Number of Records Exposed in Most Significant Breach: The number of records exposed in the most significant breach was 2.0B.
References
What is the most recent source of information about an incident?
Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident is Hackread.com.
Investigation Status
What is the current status of the most recent investigation?
Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is Ongoing.
What Do We Measure?
Every week, Rankiteo analyzes billions of signals to give organizations a sharper, faster view of emerging risks. With deeper, more actionable intelligence at their fingertips, security teams can outpace threat actors, respond instantly to Zero-Day attacks, and dramatically shrink their risk exposure window.
These are some of the factors we use to calculate the overall score:
Identify exposed access points, detect misconfigured SSL certificates, and uncover vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.
Gain visibility into the software components used within an organization to detect vulnerabilities, manage risk, and ensure supply chain security.
Monitor and manage all IT assets and their configurations to ensure accurate, real-time visibility across the company's technology environment.
Leverage real-time insights on active threats, malware campaigns, and emerging vulnerabilities to proactively defend against evolving cyberattacks.
