The social media app TikTok is famous for its creative audio and visual filters. TikTok adds and removes filters frequently, so some users may look for ways to access filters that haven’t been added. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the demand for new filters to manipulate you into downloading malware.

In a recent scam, cybercriminals share malicious links across TikTok and other platforms. They claim that these links will download filters that haven’t been added to the app. If you click the link and download the file, it may contain the desired filter. However, it may also include malware that cybercriminals can use to monitor your device and steal your sensitive information, such as your login credentials.

In case you wondered, the ways to stay safe from this type of scam should look VERY familiar! Here are some recommendations that apply, oh, to just about everything that doesn’t look quite right:

• Always think before you click.
  This type of cyberattack is designed to trigger you to click impulsively by offering exclusive content.
• Never download files from an unverified source.
  Files that install and run as expected could still contain malware without you knowing.
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your accounts when it is available. 
  MFA adds a layer of security by requiring that you provide additional verification to log in to your account.