Thu, 13 Feb 2025

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 Unofficial TikTok downloads surge in the US

Many people are turning to so-called "sideloading" because the app is unavailable on official stores.

* 120,000 people have downloaded TikTok through unofficial means called "sideloading" since President Trump's executive order
* People are using third-party websites, often referred to as "black markets", to get the app on their devices
* Sideloading involves bypassing Apple and Google's official app stores, which are preventing new downloads of the app in the US
* Record traffic has been reported by one such company, Signulous, with over 2,000 downloads per hour at times
* People are also using virtual private networks (VPNs) to pretend they are in a different country where the ban does not apply
* The trends show how difficult it would be for authorities to enforce a ban on TikTok if one is introduced
* Unofficial app shops like Signulous operate in a legal grey area by signing up customers to software developer accounts and charging fees for sideloading
* Experts say there's an increased risk of downloading faulty or malicious software through unofficial means
* TikTok itself has released a download kit to make it easier for Android users to sideload the app onto devices
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