TikTok's "secret operation" tracks you even if you don't use it (from Malwarebyte blog)

[IcyPeas]

In TikTok's case, the company embeds a tracker called a "pixel." Pixel gathers user data from these websites to help companies target ads and measure how these work.

CR sought the aid of security firm Disconnect to scan for websites containing TikTok’s pixel, paying particular attention to sites that regularly deal with sensitive information, such as .gov, .org, and .edu sites. It turns out that pixels are already widespread.

"I think people are conditioned to think, 'Facebook is everywhere, and whatever, they're going to get my data.'," said Disconnect Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Patrick Jackson. "I don’t think people connect that with TikTok yet."

Among other data, TikTok collects the IP address; a unique number; the page a user is on; and what they're clicking, typing, or searching for. While the data is used for targeted ads and ad effectiveness, TikTok spokesperson Melanie Bosselait said the data "is not used to group individuals into particular interest categories for other advertisers to target." Data collected from non-TikTok users, however, are used in aggregated reports sent to advertisers.
...
Consumer Reports recommends three guidelines to follow for users to protect their personal information online:

- Use privacy-protected browser extensions, such as uBlock Origin (or, we might add, Malwarebytes Browser Guard).
- Take advantage of your browser’s privacy settings.
- Use a privacy-focused browser, such as Brave or Firefox.

When it comes to tracker presence online, Google and Meta still lead. But TikTok's advertising business is booming. And, with that, data collection is expected to grow, too.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2022/10/tiktoks-secret-operation-tracks-you-even-if-you-dont-use-it

[Blue Owl]

1. Never used it and never will

[keithbvadu2]

2. Our personal information is valuable but we do not own it.

Our personal information is valuable but we do not own it.

We supposedly have some level of control over who gets it but that is doubtful.

[Amishman]

3. Given that TikTok is a partially owned by the Chinese Govt...

You can guess who is building some nice databases on Americans.

You might think 'who cares? What can they use that for?'.

The answer is that type of information can be very useful in deducing passwords and phishing. China is relentless in their attempts to hack darn near every server connected to the net.

[Scrivener7]

4. This. We are patsies.

[Raine]

5. I will never use Tik Tick, I prefer my information doesn't end up in China's hands.

It's s depressing that so many people don't seem to understand how much they're giving up about themselves to China and being used.