Zoom became one of the most popular video conferencing software solutions in 2020. It enables virtual collaboration with coworkers when face-to-face meetings are not feasible, and it’s also a big success at social gatherings.
Make no mistake: Zoom is a critical tool for small, medium, and large teams who want to remain connected and continue their regular processes with the least amount of interruption possible.
About Zoom
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service that enables you to connect virtually with other people through video, audio, or both, and conduct live conversations as well as record such sessions for later viewing.
When individuals discuss Zoom, the terms “Zoom Meeting” and “Zoom Room” are often used. A Zoom meeting is a video conference meeting that is held via Zoom. These meetings are open to the public and may be accessed by webcam or phone. A Zoom room, on the other hand, is the actual hardware configuration that enables companies to plan and start Zoom meetings from their conference rooms.
Zoom Rooms is an optional subscription-based service that is suited for big companies.
Zoom App’s primary features
The following are the primary characteristics of Zoom:
- One-on-One Meetings: Even on the free plan, you may schedule an unlimited number of one-on-one meetings.
- Group videoconferences: accommodate up to 500 people (if a “large meeting” add-on is purchased). However, the free plan enables you to conduct video conferences lasting up to 40 minutes and accommodating up to 100 people.
- Meet one-on-one or in big groups and share your screen with them so they can see what you’re seeing.
- Additionally, you may record meetings and activities.
Concerns and updates about Zoom’s privacy and security
In early 2020, concerns about Zoom were raised about both security and problems with uninvited visitors, dubbed Zoom bombers.
The business has made efforts to address these concerns and to reassert the critical nature of security and privacy to consumers. This includes basic steps such as deleting the meeting ID from the call title bar, which ensures that the meeting is not exposed to potential misuse if users post images online.
Additionally, the company has updated a number of its apps to enhance its security credentials.
Zoom and work from home
Humanity does not seem to be capable of taking a vacation. Even though we were forced to return home due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and are now required to do all business online, utilizing Zoom conversations puts our privacy and security at risk.
Everyone who used Facebook to sign up for the Zoom conference call service had their private information shared with hundreds of companies and other parties, including Facebook.
The error even led to a class-action lawsuit against Zoom, whose stock had fallen almost 50% since the epidemic started.
Those who have followed sound cyber security procedures and used a VPN are completely secure.
However, there is no sense in moaning about what has been done. For those who want to begin, it will require some effort. A reliable VPN service, such as NordVPN, is a must-have and the simplest place to begin when having video conversations. Additionally, it supports multiple concurrent connections and adheres to a strict no-logging policy. Thus, you may easily disconnect your actual IP address from one or more Zoom stores.
Following that, you’ll want to clean up your Facebook account, alter it to make it seem phony, and then conceal it. Finally, establish a new Zoom account with a unique email address for this purpose. All personal data should be moved to an external hard drive, and the computer should be unplugged for at least the next several months.
Zoom security applications
Zoom has simplified the process of managing and securing meetings in real-time. You may now access a variety of security features with only a few clicks. This includes the option to lock the meeting once it has begun, preventing new participants from joining, and removing existing participants from the call. Additionally, you may mute and unmute people, as well as deactivate private chats.
To use Zoom’s security features, just click the security button that displays in the window during the conversation or hover over a participant to engage with them directly—for example, to remove them from the call.
Confidentiality and security while using Zoom
Due to the coronavirus epidemic and the widespread adoption of social distance and containment measures, individuals rapidly sought effective modes of communication. Zoom rapidly gained popularity due to its simplicity of use and affordable pricing. On the other hand, consumers soon discovered that Zoom’s creators were unprepared for such scrutiny. Due to the fact that Zoom quickly created security weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Zoom’s flow became apparent very soon as a result of this usage. The company effectively handles this massive increase in workload and reacts promptly when security experts share fresh discoveries with it. However, like with any service, code changes do not resolve all issues, and some are more critical than others.
Zoom VPN
Businesses and criminal organizations take your IP address for a variety of reasons. And, if a breach occurs, as was the case with Zoom, they just need to acquire the data without resorting to hacking.
However, if you use a VPN, your IP address is shielded, so there is no need to be concerned. Not only will this connection secure your IP address, but it will also convert the brand and model of your device to the servers. Split tunneling over a virtual private network (VPN) enables you to route part of your application or device traffic via an encrypted VPN while leaving other apps or devices with direct internet access. This is especially advantageous if you want to make use of services that function optimally when your location is known while still maintaining secure access to potentially sensitive conversations and data.
The security features of a decent VPN service do not interfere with your work; they just confuse thieves. This is why we do not recommend using a free VPN; VPNs for Zoom must ensure that you are completely protected from Zoom bombing.
Safeguard your Zoom account
Your Zoom account is, first and foremost, another account, and you should adhere to the basics of account safety while configuring it. Ensure that your password is strong and unique and that you activate two-factor authentication. This technique makes hacking your account more difficult and ensures more security, even if your account data is compromised (which has not yet happened).
Here is at least one more one-of-a-kind Zoom tip. When you create an account, along with your username and password, you’ll receive a personal meeting number. Share it with no one in public. Because Zoom enables you to organize public meetings using your meeting number, obtaining one is very simple. If you are hosting one, anybody with your personal meeting number is welcome to attend. Caution should be used while sharing this information.
Create a Zoom account using your work email address
A very peculiar issue discovered in Zoom led the service to think that email addresses from the same domain (unless it was an extremely popular domain) were associated with the same business. As a result, Zoom shared the group’s contact information with all members. This may also occur with email addresses belonging to smaller public email services.
Therefore, sign up for Zoom using your work email address. Sharing your contact information with coworkers should not be too difficult. If you do not have a company account, establish a fictitious account in a well-known public domain to protect your details.
Please refrain from sharing conference URLs on social media
You may want to organize a public event, and the only public events permitted these days are online ones. This is why Zoom continues to grow in popularity. Even if your event is public, you should refrain from posting the URL on social media.
How do trolls become aware of future events? You guessed it correctly; they locate them through social media. This is why you should refrain from posting links to your Zoom sessions on social media. If, for whatever reason, you still want to do so, ensure that the use of the Personal Meeting ID option is deactivated.
Each meeting should be password protected
Using a password to secure your meeting is still the most effective method to guarantee that only the participants you want to see may attend. Zoom recently defaulted to password protection. A wise choice. Having said that, do not mix the password for your Zoom meeting with the password for your Zoom account. Similar to meeting links, passwords should never be shared on social media or any other public channel; otherwise, your attempts to shield yourself from trolls will be in vain.
Turn on the Waiting Room feature
The Waiting Room feature, which was recently enabled by default, enables you to better manage your meeting by requiring attendees to wait in a “waiting room” until they are individually validated by the host. This allows you to see who is attending your meeting, even if the password was acquired by someone who was not meant to be there. Additionally, this function enables you to eject an unwelcome guest from your meeting and the Waiting Room. We advise you to leave this option ticked.
Take pleasure in Zoom
When you may feel alone and bored while on lockdown, consider the upside. Consider what you would have done in the absence of the internet, video conferencing, and telecommuting. We are ecstatic to be able to utilize applications like Zoom, and you now understand how to do it effectively.