A good rule is to avoid any tool that asks for your TikTok username/password, installs an unknown extension, or requests broad browser permissions. For your own stories, the safest option is to save the original video/photo locally before posting, or use TikTok’s built-in save/download options when available. If you’re considering a TikTok story downloader, stick to services that don’t require login credentials and avoid uploading anything private. For friends’ stories, make sure they’ve given permission and preferably have them send you the original file. Third-party tools can change or stop working, so I’d still check TikTok’s official options first.