I’ve been reiterating this point for several months now: Removing TikTok from your phone is crucial. However, it’s not just TikTok that you need to be concerned about when it comes to China-based apps. Temu, an app that promises a “billionaire shopping experience,” doesn’t deliver on its enticing deals. But that’s not all. If you still want to enjoy TikTok, there is a way to use the app without compromising your personal information to communist China. Why not give it a try?
Kim Komando provides valuable advice for TikTok users on how to safeguard their personal information while using the app. In plain and simple terms, TikTok poses a threat to national security. Its parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing and is obligated by Chinese law to grant access to collected data to the government. TikTok collects various types of data, including search and browsing history, facial ID, voice prints, texts, location, and photos. Although government agencies and even an entire state like Montana have banned the social media app, it remains highly popular, with approximately two-thirds of U.S. teens using it. So, what options do you have? Unfortunately, TikTok is required by law to provide the government with the information they collect.
Simply browsing TikTok on the web won’t eliminate tracking entirely. However, there is a solution available. Your best bet is to purchase a low-cost smartphone, often referred to as a “burner phone.” You don’t need anything fancy since this phone will solely be used for social media purposes. A basic and inexpensive Android phone will suffice. Set up the phone without linking it to any of your primary accounts. Start fresh.
Do not log into any of your primary accounts, such as your Google account, Apple ID, company email, personal email, or any other accounts. Furthermore, refrain from granting the app access to sensitive personal or financial information. Create a new email account exclusively for this phone and your TikTok account. This way, even if TikTok (or any other app) collects data from your device, it won’t be connected to your actual personal information. It’s important to exercise caution and be mindful of the information you share with the app or post on it. You can connect the burner phone to your home’s Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a cellular data plan. However, there is one more crucial step you need to take.
When you connect a device to your home network, it becomes part of the same digital space as your other devices. For example, if your “burner phone” gets infected with malware, it can potentially affect other devices on your network. To prioritize privacy and security, it’s essential to set up a guest network in your home. This network allows guests or selected devices to access the internet without compromising the security of your main network. Most routers offer an option to enable a “Guest Network” in the settings. The process may vary depending on your router, and you may need the device’s IP address and admin password to access the router admin page from a computer. These details can usually be found in the user guide for your router brand, or you can seek assistance from online sources. Look for the “Guest Wi-Fi” section or a similar option under “Wireless Settings.” Give your guest network a unique name to distinguish it from your regular network, minimizing the risk of accidentally connecting to the wrong network on your new TikTok phone.
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