Zoom 5.0: These New security measures Could Fix one among Zoom’s Biggest Problems
Zoom 5.0: These New security measures Could Fix one among Zoom’s Biggest Problems
As a part of Zoom 5.0, Zoom has added a replacement feature called “Report a User,” to prevent Zoom bombers in ... [+] their tracks and stop them from using the service ever again.
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Zoom has thus far been the video chat option of choice during COVID-19 as most of the planet stays reception . But as users surge from 10 million to 300 million in just a few months, multiple security and privacy issues have emerged.
It’s fair to say Zoom should have better anticipated its security and privacy woes, but the company is now trying to make things right by adding multiple new features aimed at making users safer.
Yesterday, Zoom announced the launch of a more secure version, Zoom 5.0, along with an update on its progress on a three-month strategy intended to boost security.
One of Zoom’s biggest issues that continues to hit a lot of users is “Zoom bombing,” which sees uninvited guests crashing your meeting or chat, often sharing offensive content such as porn.
MORE FROM FORBESBeware Zoom Users: Here's How People Can 'Zoom-Bomb' Your ChatBy Kate O'Flaherty
As I have already reported, Zoom has now made Waiting Rooms and Passwords on by default, to help prevent unwelcome people from entering chats. As part of Zoom 5.0, Zoom has now added another new feature called “Report a User,” to stop Zoom bombers in their tracks and prevent them from using the service ever again.
Stop Zoom bombing: How the Report a User feature works
The Report a User feature are going to be available to the meeting host via a replacement Security icon on the task bar. If an unwelcome participant joins the meeting, the host or co-host can select this option, and Zoom automatically takes a screenshot of the reported user along with their shared content and creates a report.
The report is sent to Zoom’s team, who will review it and investigate the user. “Confirmed offending users will have their accounts terminated, and, where appropriate, we will notify relevant law enforcement authorities,” a Zoom spokesman told me.
The setting will be on by default, but can be turned off at the account, group, or user level by a Zoom account admin.
Zoom bombing is also made easier by easy to guess meeting IDs, or users sharing these IDs online. As part of measures that help prevent Zoom bombing, Zoom has also added 11-digit meeting IDs for added complexity. Meanwhile during a meeting, the meeting ID and Invite option have been moved from the main Zoom interface to the Participants menu, so it’s harder for a user to accidentally share their ID on social media.
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Zoom has thus far been the video chat option of choice during COVID-19 as most of the planet stays reception . But as users surge from 10 million to 300 million in just a few months, multiple security and privacy issues have emerged.
It’s fair to say Zoom should have better anticipated its security and privacy woes, but the company is now trying to make things right by adding multiple new features aimed at making users safer.
Yesterday, Zoom announced the launch of a more secure version, Zoom 5.0, along with an update on its progress on a three-month strategy intended to boost security.
One of Zoom’s biggest issues that continues to hit a lot of users is “Zoom bombing,” which sees uninvited guests crashing your meeting or chat, often sharing offensive content such as porn.
MORE FROM FORBESBeware Zoom Users: Here's How People Can 'Zoom-Bomb' Your ChatBy Kate O'Flaherty
As I have already reported, Zoom has now made Waiting Rooms and Passwords on by default, to help prevent unwelcome people from entering chats. As part of Zoom 5.0, Zoom has now added another new feature called “Report a User,” to stop Zoom bombers in their tracks and prevent them from using the service ever again.
Stop Zoom bombing: How the Report a User feature works
The Report a User feature are going to be available to the meeting host via a replacement Security icon on the task bar. If an unwelcome participant joins the meeting, the host or co-host can select this option, and Zoom automatically takes a screenshot of the reported user along with their shared content and creates a report.
The report is sent to Zoom’s team, who will review it and investigate the user. “Confirmed offending users will have their accounts terminated, and, where appropriate, we will notify relevant law enforcement authorities,” a Zoom spokesman told me.
The setting will be on by default, but can be turned off at the account, group, or user level by a Zoom account admin.
Zoom bombing is also made easier by easy to guess meeting IDs, or users sharing these IDs online. As part of measures that help prevent Zoom bombing, Zoom has also added 11-digit meeting IDs for added complexity. Meanwhile during a meeting, the meeting ID and Invite option have been moved from the main Zoom interface to the Participants menu, so it’s harder for a user to accidentally share their ID on social media.
MORE FROM FORBESUse Zoom? Here Are 7 Essential Steps You Can Take To Secure ItBy Kate O'Flaherty More security features in Zoom 5.0
As part of Zoom 5.0 due to launch in around a week, Zoom will upgrade to Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit GCM encryption, which is a big improvement on its 128-bit AES keys. Zoom 5.0 supports GCM encryption, and Zoom says this will take effect once all accounts are enabled with GCM, with system-wide account enablement taking place on May 30.
It’s a good move, but it’s important to note Zoom is not yet end-to-end encrypted, and it’s possible this will be added at a later date.
For those who are interested in end-to-end encrypted video conferencing, open source video chat app Jitsi is working on adding this pretty soon. It’s a great app, and worth trying out–although it can be a little unstable when dealing with large group chats.
MORE FROM FORBESZoom Alternatives: 5 Options For People Who Care About Security And PrivacyBy Kate O'Flaherty
In more improvements to its security, Zoom has set passwords to be on by default to all those accessing cloud recordings. Zoom also recently gave paid users the option to ensure their data isn’t routed through China.
It’s true to say that many of these measures should have been there from the start. However, it’s better late than never and Zoom is certainly making the effort to try and make its service more secure.
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