TikTok to rank as the third largest social network

  • A new 2022 forecast has placed TikTok as the world’s third-largest social network, just behind Facebook and Instagram.
  • The forecast predicts that TikTok will reach 755.0 million monthly users in 2022.
  • This follows a growth of 59.8% in 2020 and 40.8% in 2021.
  • TikTok’s growth is reported to be “a clear reflection of the addictive nature of its content”.
  • For more information, check out our TikTok safety card.
  • Full story, here.

UK donates 225 million stolen passwords to hack-checking site

  • UK law enforcement has donated 225 million unique passwords to a cyber-security project helping to protect users from hacking.
  • The National Crime Agency (NCA) recovered the database from cyber-criminals who had collected real users’ email addresses and passwords.
  • This list has been added to free online service ‘Have I Been Pwned (HIBP)’ which allows anyone to search passwords to check if theirs has been stolen.
  • The NCA is now encouraging people to search for their own passwords on the website.
  • Full story, here.

Meta cracks down on phishing scams that use its trademarks

  • Meta is acting against individuals that impersonated Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram for phishing scams.
  • Since 2019, over 39,000 websites were created to replicate Meta’s services, subsequently deceiving users and collecting their login information.
  • Users affected were redirected to a fake login page that resembled Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or WhatsApp.
  • Username and password information was collected when users attempted to login.
  • Full story, here.

Restrictions in NI a step closer as Omicron aid doubled

  • The Government has doubled Northern Ireland’s funding to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant.
  • This follows the criticism given last week after only £75m was offered.
  • This has been boosted to £150m to ensure support “in the face of this serious health crisis”.
  • Ministers are meeting tomorrow to discuss the current situation after the deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said that Omicron would hit Northern Ireland ‘like a ton of bricks’ with the worst-case scenario predicted to be 30,000 daily infections.
  • It is expected that new restrictions to be applied after Christmas will be announced.
  • Full story, here.