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It’s mid-afternoon April 4, 2020 as I write this. Here in Michigan we’re in shelter-in-home lockdown amid the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Over the last few weeks as schools close and remote-working becomes requirement versus preference, more individuals and businesses are turning to software that allows them to conduct online meetings with colleagues and do virtual face-to-face check-ins with family and friends.

Among the most popular online meeting room software solutions is Zoom. There’s a robust free version, plus several for fee upgrade options. Unfortunately, Zoom has come under scrutiny after some using it fell victim to a variety of nefarious and mischievous individuals who delight in attention-seeking antics and worse. The FBI even took noticed and issued a warning. You can read more about that here and here.

Looking Beyond the Warnings

Just so no one misunderstands … I understand the warnings issued. I do not disagree that using Zoom to host online meetings can make organizations and individuals at risk for uninvited intrusions.

However, that’s true about so many situations, whether online or in physical spaces. Schools, churches, malls, as well as private homes and businesses have had their walls breached by those looking for attention, to do harm, to make their opinions known.

Here’s what’s also true. Exercising due diligence is not only wise, but necessary.

Unfortunately, some new (and seasoned) Zoom users failed to understand or implement the internal security controls that are available when scheduling and hosting meetings.

Yes, additional security holes were found, and Zoom has acted quickly to resolve them. But such concerns, holes, fixes will undoubtedly cycle around again. Not just with Zoom, but with any and all software or app that provides access via the internet. Need I point out that any and all physical buildings have the potential to also be breached?

Why I’ll Continue to Use Zoom

I’ve been using and highly recommending Zoom for several years now, with a Pro account early on.

  • I’m careful where and how I share my various Zoom access links
  • I check my physical surroundings to make certain nothing is visible from my webcam that I don’t want seen
  • I know how to lock an online room to keep out the uninvited
  • I set password only access when prudent
  • I monitor who can screenshare and who can’t
  • I monitor who can record sessions and who can’t
  • I know how to mute someone’s audio
  • I know how to turn off someone’s video camera feed
  • I know how to kick someone out of a meeting
  • and I know how to block someone from getting back in

Other than a few random technical glitches over the years, Zoom has been a wonderfully easy, inexpensive, reliable tool in my small business toolbox. (I did have a random foul-mouthed jerk make rude comments during a Facebook Live steam once. His comments were deleted. I reported him and blocked him from my page. No, I did not know him.)

I’m not going to let a few reported scary and troublesome reports of how some individuals chose to breach the Zoom rooms of others to make fools of themselves or worse determine whether or not I continue to use my Zoom account. I’ll continue to use it as frequently (with care) as I have in the past.

I’ll not criticize you if you decide not to use Zoom. Your decision is your responsibility … and I totally respect that.

For those who would like to see what Zoom’s like for yourself, my referral link is attached. Click here and setup a free account.

  • Kat – you’ve got some great tips and things to know when you schedule or use Zoom. I’m going to go through it and make sure that I know each of these.

    Thank you for sharing.

    ~April

  • My church is using Zoom right now for weekday devotions, to help us all stay connected. I’m impressed by what can be done with Zoom, so I agree that it’s best to stick with it an be careful, then give up on it.

  • Zoom is how I am working as an Assistant Principal right now. Starting Monday we will also be conducting interviews via the Zoom platform. I’m glad it exists for us to continue working, but this is an interesting new way to work! 😀

    • Hi Carrie. Nice to hear how your school is using Zoom. My husband and I are both on the advisory board for our local high school technical center. I introduced Zoom to the principal several years ago when my husband was recuperating from surgery. I suggested he conduct the annual mock job interviews with our section’s students via online using Zoom. Took a bit of convincing but everyone was delighted with the results.

  • I’ve been using Zoom for 6 1/2 years now in a variety of ways and have always loved it. I am really impressed with how Zoom technical is updating to, obviously, make things as secure as possible. The join links have gotten much more complex and I’ve notice other Administrator options and controls that were not there or as visible before all of this.

    There are evidently specific controls that were added to the education/teacher platforms. Someone I know was using it for classroom teaching, after the system her county was using kept crashing. She switched to Zoom and was surprised when one of the students was playing with his video option, the was blocked from being on video. Neither he nor she could change it.

    AND, l just discovered yesterday that there is now a virtual background option on both my iPad and iPone. My computer systems is too old to accomodate it and the iPad background was a little off. The virtual background was perfect on my iPhone XS.

  • Ok, this is a great article, I was wondering about Zoom… I suggested my Mom and her friends do a Zoom call and do their Friday Bingo via a Zoom call. But Mrs. Jones husband said it was compromised and won’t let her use it! I’m sharing this article with my Mom and her friends and just maybe they’ll resume their BINGO again…..It will definitely be a healthy thing for all of them to do! THANK YOU so much for putting some light on this issue for us, you are AWESOME- not my dogs are saying PAWSOME! LOL!

  • Ok, this is a great article, I was wondering about Zoom… I suggested my Mom and her friends do a Zoom call and do their Friday Bingo via a Zoom call. But Mrs. Jones husband said it was compromised and won’t let her use it! I’m sharing this article with my Mom and her friends and just maybe they’ll resume their BINGO again…..It will definitely be a healthy thing for all of them to do! THANK YOU so much for putting some light on this issue for us, you are AWESOME- not my dogs are saying PAWSOME! LOL!

    • Mrs Jones’ husband isn’t the only one who threw the pendulum far the other way. I hope he reconsiders. Playing virtual bingo sounds so fun to do! Do let me know how it turns out, please.

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