Here's How TikTok Silently Monitors Your Web Activity

TikTok has mired itself in another controversy, one that puts it in the same infamous lane of surreptitiously tracking users across the web as rivals platforms like Instagram and Facebook. According to an analysis by security researcher Felix Krause, the TikTok app's web browser is capable of logging all the keyboard inputs, potentially giving it access to sensitive information like log-in credentials alongside a track of what websites users visit and what they do on those web pages.

When you click a link while surfing the TikTok app, it opens inside a native web view that serves as TikTok's own basic web browser. Not every app does that. Take for example WhatsApp. When you click on a URL shared on the messaging app, it automatically opens it in the default web browser on your phone, which can be anything from Chrome to Safari. 

TikTok is not alone in offering a native browser experience, but there is something potentially nefarious embedded in the code. According to Krause, TikTok's in-app browser has JavaScript command lines that allow it to log every keystroke when users are checking out a website. That means every keyboard input, from messages to log-in credentials, can be recorded. 

Keystroke logging is one of the most widely abused techniques for stealing sensitive information, which makes one wonder why a social media app like TikTok is using that code for its in-app web browser. Aside from keystroke tracking, TikTok's in-app browser is also capable of recording all on-screen input. The app is capable of recording each image you click, each button you tap, and each URL you interact with in the TikTok web browser.

All that is done using a custom JavaScript function. TikTok representatives have denied allegations of tracking users but admit that the JavaScript code for the aforementioned activities is indeed a part of the in-app browser experience. However, the explanation for why those questionable features are bundled with its in-app web browser sounds rather odd. 

In an official statement shared with Forbes, a TikTok spokesperson mentioned that the controversial JavaScript code is there for "debugging, troubleshooting and performance monitoring" of the web experience offered by the in-app browser. 

It is worth noting here that Krause doesn't claim he's found evidence that TikTok is abusing the feature to track users, nor proof of if that valuable data is shared with third parties. At the same time, as Krause told Forbes, "this does not happen by mistake or randomly."

Interestingly, out of the seven apps tested as part of a research project conducted by Krause, TikTok was found to be the only one discovered to be capable of logging keystrokes. TikTok also emerged as the app that monitors the widest range of user activities — more than Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Snapchat. 

It's also difficult to take TikTok's statements at face value. A bombshell BuzzFeed investigation recently revealed that data of U.S. users was accessed in China, despite the company repeatedly claiming otherwise in the past. Following the BuzzFeed report, which cited leaked internal audio recordings, TikTok announced that it was moving all American user data to servers located on U.S. soil, thanks to a partnership with Oracle. TikTok is already banned in India over national security concerns and narrowly avoided a ban in the U.S. over similar concerns not too long ago.

In June 2022, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr asked Google and Apple to remove TikTok from the Play Store and App Store, respectively, over security due to alleged ties with the Chinese government. Carr mentioned in an open letter that sensitive user data is being accessed in China. Michael Beckerman, head of TikTok's public policy for the U.S. market, denied those claims in a CNN interview.

10 Reasons To Stop Using Safari

Apple touts Safari as the "best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices," (via Apple). It comes pre-installed on macOS and iOS and is the default browser on both operating systems. There's no arguing that Safari is a modern-looking browser with a pleasing and easy-to-use interface. Some people love Safari, but it's not the first choice for everyone.

There are legitimate reasons why you should stop using Safari and switch to an alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox. In particular, it's tough to argue that Safari should be a go-to browser for anyone not using a Mac device, as we noted above that the browser was built by Apple and comes on its devices. But there are reasons to use other browsers, even for dedicated Mac users. Here are 10 reasons it's time to stop using Safari, beginning with common errors users receive when attempting to use the browser.

Most people don't have any issues with Safari, but some deal with an annoying memory error or energy error when using the browser. The browser suddenly will display the warning, "This web page is using significant energy," and ask you to close the offending page. This error typically shows up when a single page or multiple pages are pulling more resources than normal, Apple notes. This extra power consumption causes an unexpected drain on your battery. Closing the offending windows usually restores the browser and your power consumption back to normal. 

You also may see a similar warning about the page using too much memory. The "significant memory" error is particularly annoying, as Safari will reload the web page automatically, causing you to lose form items and any other text you were entering into the window at the time. This memory error happens on both older Macs and even Apple's new M1 Mac series of laptops, according to 9to5 Mac. Similar to the energy error, the memory error occurs when the user has multiple browser tabs open or is browsing a particularly media-intensive site.

This "significant memory" error slows down both the browser and the operating system. According to Browser How, you can try to fix it by closing tabs, quitting Safari, disabling extensions, or clearing the browser cache. These procedures don't always work, and sometimes the only way to fix the issue is to restart your computer.

Extensions are a great way to expand the functionality of your browser, Apple notes. With extensions, you can check your grammar as you write (via Grammarly), store passwords for future use, save money while shopping, and more. An extension can bring new features to the browser or add support for outside services. Both Safari for the Mac and Safari for iOS support extensions.

Safari is far from the best browser if you want to significantly expand the functionality of your browser. You will be sadly disappointed. You can open the Mac App Store or the iOS app store and browse through all the available extensions. It won't take you very long as both browsers only have a limited number of extensions in their app library.

If extensions are essential to you, consider switching to Chrome. The Chrome browser is the king of extensions with an extensive library of add-ons. Just be careful installing extensions, especially on Chrome. Google doesn't review extensions as closely as Apple does, and occasionally malware-laden extensions make their way into the Google Play store. You can install Google Play Protect to handle this.

Some websites simply don't support Safari. Apple uses the WebKit rendering engine, which is not as popular as the chromium engine behind Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, Wired notes. Chromium, in particular, has widespread developer support, and most websites are designed to support this browser engine. Google's Gmail, the most popular email service, works far better on Chrome than on Safari, according to the company's website.

In many cases, support for Safari is not at the top of the list when a company architects a website. The developers instead focus on Chrome, the browser with the most users, according to Oberlo. Because Safari is an afterthought, some websites won't display correctly in Safari for iOS or macOS. This second-class status not only affects how a website appears but it also shapes how it works. Some Mac and iOS users may discover advanced features and integrated web apps, like those for video calling, are not enabled.

For years, Apple has worked to integrate its Mac platform seamlessly with its iOS devices, and the company's efforts have paid off, as evidenced by Apple's Handoff. Open Safari, and you can't help but notice how data is shared across devices. For starters, both the bookmarks and open tabs on your Mac will show up on your iOS device and vice versa. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to Handoff, you can answer incoming phone calls and text messages on your Mac. You also can copy a snippet of text on your Mac and paste it on your iPhone.

Though convenient, this sharing only works if you stick with Apple devices. You are out of luck if you go outside Apple and use an Android phone or a Windows PC. You cannot use Safari to access data like bookmarks and history on non-Apple devices, as the Handoff page notes. You'll have to use another browser like Chrome. Apple wasn't always so close-minded. The company did offer a Safari version for Windows but abandoned that project years ago, according to Comparium.

Like many people, you probably use the same computer for multiple purposes. You may share a computer with your kids or use a single workstation for both work and home. You may even want to keep these workspaces separate, and have different profiles for everyone who uses the computer. Chrome and even Firefox offer built-in profiles allowing you to create profiles on the browser level. You can create a customized profile for watching videos and another for researching information. Once created, you can quickly switch between these profiles. 

Unfortunately, profiles are not available in Safari, Komando notes. To create two distinct workspaces, you have to set up two user accounts — known as an Apple ID — and switch between the users. User accounts affect not only Safari but also the launcher and other settings. Instead of focusing on the browser, you have to configure the entire operating system, which can be inconvenient.

Safari struggles with rendering some web pages, but that's not all. It also is not compatible with some web apps. With limited time and money for development, web developers often target the most popular browser platform and the one that is most developer-friendly. Not surprisingly, the browser of choice is usually Google Chrome, which grabs 70% of the browser market, or Microsoft Edge which is the browser of choice for Microsoft developers. 

As a result of this attention on Chrome and Edge, not all web apps will work inside Safari. Take, for example, the calling and video calling feature in Slack. The company Tweeted that it planned to focus on a great Chrome experience, and was intentionally overlooking other browsers as a result. The web-based feature works just fine in Chrome on the Mac, but won't work in Safari. If you try to answer an incoming call in Safari, you are prompted to either switch to the Chrome browser for the Mac or download the Slack desktop app for the Mac.

Hands down, Safari is the fastest browser on the Mac, but Google Chrome and Opera are not too far behind in speed. In a recent test by PC Magazine, Apple's Safari browser scored a 119 on the Jetstream 2 test, putting ita the top of the list. Though Safari was the speediest, it did not crush the competition and other tests have shown similar results. Chrome and Opera were slightly behind with scores of 103 and 102.6, respectively. This slight drop in speed may be a worthwhile tradeoff for some. 

But as we noted above, that speed is only expected on a Mac device. Furthermore, as also noted above, what good is speed if the apps and sites you want to use don't work up to their full potential? Yes, you sacrifice some speed, but in return, you get the increased compatibility and expandability of Chrome or features like the built-in VPN in Opera.

Apple touts the deep collaboration between its devices, as we've covered in this article. Apple loves to tout how AirPods automatically switch between devices, how mobile phone calls get forwarded to your Mac, and how items you copy on the Mac can be pasted on your iPhone. However, there is minimal integration between the two products when it comes to Safari and Apple's iWork productivity suite. The iWork apps, such as Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, exist as standalone apps. You must work within those apps and not in the Safari web browser.

This independent operation is in stark contrast to Google Chrome, which ties together Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Photos, and more. You can quickly switch between the different Google web apps right within Chrome. You can also manage their settings and even do all your work right within the web browser. Safari and iWork just don't have that same level of integration.

Safari has a pleasing, easy-to-use interface, but it is rather bland. Yes, you can change the tool and favorites bar or create a custom start page, but you cannot go much further. You cannot easily change the entire look and layout of the browser window like you can in competing browsers. Chrome, in particular, supports themes that'll change the browser windows appearance by adding a new background image, swapping out the colors to your preference, and modifying the style of the menu items (via Digital Trends). 

There are a variety of themes that range from the minimal options that pare down the interface to complex themes inspired by pop culture icons in competing platforms like Microsoft Edge, such as these specific themes for Halo fans. For those dedicated gamers and others who prefer to have a highly customized user interface, Safari simply doesn't stack up to the competition.

Apple is known for its slow pace of development when it comes to its web browser. The company typically rolls out Safari updates along with its iOS or macOS updates. These updates are released once every month, or sometimes, only once every few months. Some of these updates add new features, but most are quick bug fixes or security patches. Only every year or so do major upgrades happen, far less than Apple's competitors.

If you want a cutting-edge browser that adapts to technology and security threats at breakneck speed, you may have to look at alternative browsers like Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Chrome. Microsoft rolls out new versions every few weeks alternating between security updates, bug fixes, and major changes. These significant updates occur almost monthly. Google Chrome updates every four weeks or so, the company notes. According to Nstec, Firefox updates every six to eight weeks.