ZOOM SECURITY TIPS
Zoom is a very popular video conferencing app, and in this new “work from home” normal that we are all experiencing, lots of us are using Zoom to have meetings. Be aware that there are some security concerns with Zoom, but if you change just a few settings, you can increase your security as much as allowed.
Most of these settings can be found at Zoom on the web (
www.zoom.us
). Go to
www.zoom.us
and log in using your Zoom account information (Note that meeting creators have to have a Zoom account; meeting participants do not.) The Zoom app has some of these settings, but not all. So go to Zoom online, log in, and you can access these settings! (Be aware that if you go to settings in the Zoom app, instead of online, you won’t see some of these features.)
Meeting Creators:
1.
Let Zoom generate a random meeting ID
. When you launch or schedule a meeting, the options panel lets you generate a random ID for the meeting rather than using your personal one. Using a random ID is another way to avoid trolls, though if you've got an office team who always meet with the same ID, you might not consider the extra inconvenience worth it. By default, Zoom generates a random meeting ID. You can find the meeting ID by clicking on the i in the upper left corner of the screen.
2.
Make sure your meetings require a password
. In Zoom on the web, click on
Settings
,
Meeting
, then
Require a password when scheduling new meetings
, then make sure the toggle is set to ON. Attendees will then have to use the password you send them before you allow them into the meeting. You can find the meeting password by clicking on the i in the upper left corner of the screen. As of April 5
th
, Zoom has made this a default feature!
3.
Send your
own
email to attendees instead of using Zoom’s.
Meeting creators, try this, which is a lot safer for your participants, because Zoom links could be suspect. When you create a meeting, don’t use Zoom’s email feature to send a meeting invite. Instead, jot down the meeting ID and the password (make sure to use a password!), and include it in an email from you with a personal note so they know it’s really from you!
4.
Enable the “Waiting Room” option.
If the meeting creator enables this feature, participants are held in a virtual “waiting room” until the creator “admits” them. Just one more security feature to keep zoombombers out of your meeting! In Zoom on the web, click
Settings
,
Meeting
, then turn the toggle to ON for
Waiting Room
. Then once the meeting starts, click
Manage Participants
at the bottom of the screen, and you’ll see the participants in the virtual holding area on the right side of your screen. Hover over a waiting participant’s name, then click
Admit
. (The participant will see a message that says “Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.”) As of April 5
th
, Zoom has made this a default feature!
5.
Disable Screen Sharing.
Zoom has a feature that lets you share your screen with the meeting. This has caused hackers to start crashing Zoom meetings and causing disruption… a new thing called “zoombombing.” Better to be safe than sorry, and disable this feature! In Zoom on the web, click
Settings
,
Meeting
, then turn the toggle for
Screen sharing
to OFF. (You’ll then have to confirm this setting.)
Meeting Attendees:
1.
Be wary of links.
When someone creates/hosts a Zoom meeting, they send you a link through email for you to connect to the meeting. But that can look just like fake links that are often sent in phishing emails designed to either steal your personal information or load bad software (Malware) on your computer. Try to get the meeting creator to send you the meeting ID and password in a regular (non-Zoom) email, so you’ll know it’s valid.
2.
Keep the meeting ID private.
, Be sure to keep the meeting ID
PRIVATE
! Don’t share it in email or on social media! This is especially important if your meeting creator uses the same meeting ID for every meeting.
3.
Zoom meetings can be recorded.
Hosts can record audio and video from meetings, in full, so be very careful about what you say in a meeting, or make sure you trust the meeting creator. J
4.
Meeting Waiting Rooms.
If your meeting creator enabled Waiting Rooms (see above), you will have to wait for them to “Admit” you into the meeting. You will see a message that says, “Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” Be patient, you’ll be Zooming with them before you know it!