Software
software:kik
Also: K-I-K
A mobile instant-messaging application with private messaging, chat rooms, media sharing, and anonymous account registration.
A mobile instant-messaging application with private messaging, chat rooms, media sharing, and anonymous account registration.
“this episode is about a mobile app called Kik, spelled K-I-K”
“Kik is an old instant messaging app.”
Anonymous messaging platform used by participants to continue conversations from 4chan and communicate using identifiable usernames.
“K-I-K is the platform messaging system”
“they would take their conversations offline to Kik”
| Direction | Predicate | Other entity | Origin | EP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| outgoing | OPERATED_BY | Kik Interactive | Explicit | 93 |
| outgoing | OPERATED_BY | MediaLab AI | Explicit | 93 |
| outgoing | USES | XMPP | Explicit | 93 |
| outgoing | USES | PhotoDNA | Attributed | 93 |
| outgoing | ASSOCIATED_WITH | Child Sexual Abuse Material | Uncertain | 93 |
| outgoing | USES | anonymous posting | Explicit | 140 |
| incoming | AFFECTS | crash codes | Explicit | 93 |
| incoming | AFFECTS | QOS attack code | Explicit | 93 |
| incoming | USES | Christopher | Uncertain | 140 |
Kik OPERATED_BY Kik Interactive
Kik was operated by the company called Kik Interactive before its sale to MediaLab AI.
Explicit Confidence 96% · Jack Rhysider EP 93 Details
“By this point, the company was called Kik Interactive and they had a whole team of people working there.”
Kik OPERATED_BY MediaLab AI
MediaLab AI bought Kik and became its owner after Kik Interactive announced the app would be shut down.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 93 Details
“They offered to buy Kik, so it was sold to MediaLab”
Kik uses XMPP to send messages between users.
Explicit Confidence 99% · Jack Rhysider EP 93 Details
“Kik uses a protocol called XMPP which sends messages from one user to another”
crash codes AFFECTS Kik
Crash codes could force-close the Kik app when the code was viewed.
Explicit Confidence 98% · Azrael EP 93 Details
“which will force-close your app if you look at the code”
QOS attack code AFFECTS Kik
QOS attack code packed as much content as possible into a single chat bubble as part of attacks on Kik chats.
Explicit Confidence 94% · Azrael EP 93 Details
“There’s a QOS attack code which is literally just as much as you can pack into a single chat bubble”
Kik partnered with Microsoft to test PhotoDNA for scanning images against known child-abuse-image hashes; the episode is uncertain about whether it remained in use.
Attributed Confidence 96% · Jack Rhysider EP 93 Details
“In 2015, Kik partnered with Microsoft to test Microsoft’s PhotoDNA service”
Kik ASSOCIATED_WITH Child Sexual Abuse Material
The episode presents Kik as having a large and persistent CSAM problem, while also noting uncertainty about the extent of Kik's moderation and enforcement.
Uncertain Confidence 95% · Jack Rhysider EP 93 Details
“Kik Chat App Involved in 1,100 Child Abuse Cases”
“Kik has a very big problem with child abuse”
Kik USES anonymous posting
Madison describes Kik as an anonymous messaging system used by 4chan participants.
Explicit Confidence 95% · Madison EP 140 Details
“Again, an anonymous messaging system”
Christopher USES Kik
The suspected Christopher account used Kik usernames while posting or coordinating harassment; the attribution to Christopher is the victims' investigative conclusion.
Uncertain Confidence 80% · Christine EP 140 Details
“We’re seeing, hey, Kik me at ‘insert Kik name here’”