At the start of this month, President Trump announced that the US would “close down” TikTok on September 15 unless it was acquired. Data privacy and security concerns have always shrouded the app, and a new report reveals one particular loophole that TikTok exploited on Android to collect MAC addresses.
The Wall Street Journal today detailed how TikTok for Android “collected MAC addresses for at least 15 months, ending with an update released Nov. 18 of last year.”
In 2015, Google prohibited Android apps distributed through the Play Store from connecting “personally-identifiable information or associated with any persistent device identifier.” This includes MAC addresses and IMEIs.
Also, as we are fetching the MAC address using javascript user can still modify the logic and pass a fake MAC address which has access. – Ramesh Mar 28 '12 at 9:56 I don't think you can get MAC address of the client; say when it is in different subnet & thus communicates via a switch.
Chinese font download free mac. However, TikTok leveraged a workaround that the WSJ describes as being “circuitous.” That identifier, a device’s advertising ID, and other data are sent to ByteDance the first time you open the app — before users can provide any consent. While the ad ID can be reset, there’s no real benefit if any new ones can be associated with an existing MAC address.
The MAC address is useful to advertising-driven apps because it can’t be reset or altered, allowing app makers and third-party analytics firms to build profiles of consumer behavior that persist through any privacy measure short of the owner getting a new phone.
Meanwhile, TikTok also leverages an “unusual added layer of encryption” to conceal collected data. Researchers quoted in today’s piece say there is no real security benefit. Rather, this practice makes it difficult for third-parties to examine what information is being transmitted and whether the social media app is following its stated privacy policy.
The company said that the “current version of TikTok does not collect MAC addresses” but otherwise did not comment on its past practices. Meanwhile, Google said it’s examining today’s report.
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Topics Map > OS and Desktop Applications > Operating Systems
This document explains where to find instructions on how to find your device's MAC/WiFi Address.
Windows ComputersHow to find the IP number and MAC address of a network card
Mac Computers
Chromebooks
iOS Devices (iPhone/iPad)Mac Address
IP Address
Android Phones/Tablets
Note: Due to the large variety of Android devices available and variance between software versions and interfaces, there may be slight differences between the instructions below and the procedure for your device. If these instructions do not work, consult the manufacturer documentation.
Gaming Consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, etc.)Xbox One:
Xbox 360:
PlayStation 4:
PlayStation 3:
PlayStation Vita:
Nintendo Switch:
Apps Collect Mac Address SearchWii U:
Note: This will also be the wireless MAC address.
Wii:
Note: This mac address will be for the Wireless internet, so if you are connecting using an Ethernet to USB adaptor, you will have to use the MAC address of that adaptor.
Nintendo 3DS:
Apple Watch
Note: Only select Apple Watch products have WiFi available. These instructions will only work for Apple Watch/WatchOS devices with WiFi built in.
If you are looking to register the Apple Watch on UWNet, follow the instructions for registering a device without a browser once you have located the MAC address: UWNet - Register a Device Without a Browser or Pre-registering a Device Before Arriving to Campus https://wggrzd.weebly.com/roland-rd-700-sx-user-manual.html.
Apps Collect Mac Address SettingsE-Readers
This KB article from Indiana University has instructions on how to find the MAC address for various E-Readers:
https://kb.iu.edu/d/bbvk
Apps Collect Mac Address BookSee Also:Comments are closed.
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