TikTok has been criticized many times due to privacy issues, but generally those privacy issues mainly involve user data authorization issues, which are not particularly outrageous. At the end of November, the new version of TikTok actually required users to provide their iPhone password, which is the digital password to unlock the iPhone. TikTok did not explain why it required users to provide their iPhone password in the permission application.
Generally speaking, the iPhone password is one of the cornerstones of security for the entire iPhone. After all, after the password is leaked, others can unlock the iPhone and view all data. Usually, only when the iPhone is connected to a computer, and the user needs to read data through the computer, the iOS system will pop up an authorization prompt.
Therefore, TikTok’s operation is very confusing. It appeared at the end of November, and TikTok did not fix the problem until many users reported it.
Regarding this problem, TikTok issued a statement saying that this was an unexpected error and was caused by an update launched in the United States by TikTok and American security partners. TikTok emphasized that this problem only affects a small number of users and that iOS passwords are used to help verify user identities.
In addition, TikTok also stated that neither the company nor its partners can collect or access iPhone passwords provided by users.
TikTok's actions have caused concern among security experts, who advise users not to share their iPhone passwords with anyone or enter passwords in any apps, as this poses obvious security risks and is prone to phishing attacks.
However, this problem should be an unexpected BUG, because some users found that when TikTok pops up to enter the iPhone password, they only need to click Cancel, which means that whether or not the iPhone password is entered will not affect the use of TikTok.