ZOOM Security Issues

Are Zoom security issues a concern?

Over the last three weeks, Royalwise has been helping our clients get up and running on zoom.us, the most popular software to hold virtual meetings and webinars. We even talked about Zoom security.

It’s so easy that (almost) anyone can do it! If you missed our classes, you can watch the videos here: 

• Set up Zoom and join a meeting (free): http://royl.ws/Zoom-Meetings
• Host your own Zoom meeting ($10): http://royl.ws/Zoom-Host

Of course, now that Zoom has become instantly ubiquitous, clients are sending us articles from the news about Zoom’s security and impact.  

Most of the articles we’re seeing are sensationalized. News desks are tired of covering COVID-19, and love attention-grabbing click-bait headlines.

We reassure you:

“Zoom is malware!” No, it is NOT! That line alone makes me feel like the writers are doing a little bit of a hatchet job.

“Zoom has an FBI warning!” If you read the article, that FBI warning only applies to schools considering using the platform for distance learning.

“Zoom is sending my info to Facebook!” Only their iOS app was sending data to Facebook, but that is common practice and most mobile apps do this same thing. Zoom immediately removed that function from the iOS version.

“Is Zoom Bombing a thing?” Sure. Does it affect a huge percentage of Zoom users? Not at all. Most personal meetings and happy hours are not a target. Please realize that the article says 200 million people are using the platform, and they gave only FOUR examples of meetings being disrupted.

Do the math: Maybe 0.0000002%* of users are being affected. *(4 divided by 20,000,000) or *(4/20 Million) 

What is Zoom’s response?

Zoom.us is reacting to their newfound fame as best they can. They are adapting to this new world just as we are. As of April 5th, Zoom has implemented default Meeting passwords and default Waiting Room. These two features alone will stop a majority of people trying to disrupt meetings. Just be aware that these options will make getting into the meeting more challenging for some of your participants.

Zoom added a new Security button to its toolbar with settings that can protect a meeting from intruders. Consider restricting participants from sharing their screen. You can also turn on the Lock Meeting option after all your attendees have arrived. These two features solve most Zoom security issues.

It is ultimately the Host’s job to know how to handle possible issues as they come up. We address many of these in Jamie’s Zoom: How to Host a Meeting training at http://royl.ws/Zoom-Host.

If you require HIPAA compliance, there is an add-on service to give you encryption and other privacy tools.

Bottom line, people are targeting Zoom due to their success. “Privacy concerns” is a pretty vague term. While there is work to do to secure their platform as this phenomenon evolves, using Zoom is no more dangerous than posting things on Facebook (which, in my opinion, has tons of privacy issues).

What articles are you talking about?

NPR : A Must For Millions, Zoom Has A Dark Side — And An FBI Warning https://www.npr.org/2020/04/03/826129520/a-must-for-millions-zoom-has-a-dark-side-and-an-fbi-warning

The Guardian: ‘Zoom is malware’: why experts worry about the video conferencing platform https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/02/zoom-technology-security-coronavirus-video-conferencing