Zoom Security Update – April 4, 2020

This is just a quick update regarding Zoom security.

I hope you are staying well and enjoying the rain we are getting today. I love this weather, it is a nice change of pace.

As I previously mentioned, a lot of people are now using Zoom to stay in touch, have meetings, socialize, etc. With popularity there are always downsides. We’ve recently heard about a lot of different security issues with Zoom.  

So, Zoom has taken two simple steps to protect us: 

1) Password (don’t worry this one is easy – nothing to memorize) — They now require a password with all meetings. That means that in addition to joining a meeting with the Meeting ID (usually a 9 or 10 digit number), you will also need to know the Meeting Password (usually a 6 digit number).

Don’t let the word “Password” scare you. This is not as big a deal as it sounds. Nothing to memorize!  If you are joining via a meeting link, there will be no change to how you join. When the host sends you a link, it should already include the password imbedded. Just click on the link as you previously did, and it will take you to the meeting and sign you in, as before.

If you join meetings by manually entering a Meeting ID, you will need to enter a password to access the meeting. The password will be included in the invitation along with the Meeting ID.

2) Waiting Room (this is also easy) — The second change is also an easy one that does not require anything from you when joining a meeting. 

By default, when the Host schedules a meeting it will require all attendees to wait in a Waiting Room before joining the meeting. When the host is ready, and if he wants you in the meeting, he will let you in. This one is optional, so the host might disable it and let you in automatically.

That is it! These two security measures will help keep unwanted participants from unknowingly joining your meeting.

For more details, or if you are hosting a meeting, please see this letter from Zoom: (Zoom Letter – 040420)

Please see my previous posts:
Click – Downloading Zoom – or type: www.iTechTutor.com/download-zoom
Click – Joining A Meeting – or type: www.iTechTutor.com/join-zoom

As always, please let me know if you have any comments, questions, or feedback. (Richard@iTechTutor.com).

Cheers,
Richard Lazovick
Richar@iTchTutor.com
www.iTechTutor.com
707-981-4409