If youâre currently using the beta version of iOS 14 that Apple announced last week, thereâs a new feature that protects iPhone userâs privacy from apps. 

The feature will let you know whenever an app is tracking whichever text you have copied to your clipboard and Chinese social media giant TikTok was caught doing the same.

The social media app was found recording whatever you are typing on your phone which could even include sensitive information like passwords. 

© Unsplash_Konkarampelas

The app was previously found in April for tracking users with âinvasive practicesâ and promised to stop spying on its users but was still found doing the same this week. 

Appleâs iOS 14 now lets users know whenever an app is accessing sensitive material from your phone. For example, iOS 14 will also let users know with a notification if an app is using the camera or microphone. iOS 14 will show a dot-like notification at the top of the screen. 

Now that Apple has been found to be accessing copy-past information on iPhones, it can be accessed on other Apple devices since the information from the clipboard can be accessed across various Apple devices. 

Forbes stated in their article; if TikTok is active on an iPhone, the app can âread anything and everything you copy on another device: Passwords, work documents, sensitive emails, financial information.â

(it's a beta, so I'm not complaining, just...observing in public)

TikTok has responded to the finding and told Forbes the issue is âtriggered by a feature designed to identify repetitive, spammy behaviourâ, and that it has âalready submitted an updated version of the app to the App Store removing the anti-spam feature to eliminate any potential confusionâ.

© Unsplash_KonKarampelas

It is currently not known whether TikTok has access to the clipboard information on Android as well. It is alarming to see a social media is accessing sensitive information similar to a key logger on PCs. 

TikTok has not detailed whether the app tracks clipboard information for Android users as well. 

Source: Forbes

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