Below are the recent updates made to Zoom in order to increase Security, tips to increase security, and instructional guides on how to use Zoom's security features.
April 28, 2020
Zoom 5.0, April 28, 2020
Zoom has released a new update, Zoom 5.0, that includes new features that increase security for Zoom meetings. See below for more details. Update your Zoom application to to 5.0 to see these new features.
- AES 256-bit GCM encryption
- Zoom 5.0 supports our current encryption and GCM encryption. A system-wide account enablement to GCM encryption will occur on May 30, 2020, and only Zoom clients on version 5.0 or later will be able to join Zoom Meetings starting May 30, 2020.
- Report a User feature
- Meeting hosts and co-hosts can report a user in their meeting who is misusing the Zoom platform. Found in the Security icon, the option sends a report to Zoom’s Trust & Safety team for review. The report can include a specific offense, description, and optional screenshot.
- Enhancements to ending/leaving meetings
- We've refined the action of ending or leaving a Zoom Meeting to make it easier and also more secure. With a new UI update, hosts can clearly decide between ending or leaving a meeting. If the host leaves, they can now easily select a new host and have the confidence that the right person is left with host privileges.
April 9, 2020
Zoom Security Update, April 9, 2020
The meeting host will now have a Security icon in their meeting controls, which combines all of Zoom’s existing in-meeting security controls into one place. This includes locking the meeting, enabling Waiting Room and more. Users can also now enable Waiting Room in a meeting, even if the feature was turned off before the start of the meeting.
- Update your Zoom application to see this new feature.
- Once in the meeting, click Security to see the list of options.
April 3, 2020
Zoom Security Changes, April 3, 2020
Due to concerns about unwanted users joining Zoom sessions, the following changes were made in all UAB eLearning Zoom accounts on April 3, 2020.
All Zoom meetings automatically require a meeting password.
- A password will be generated automatically and can be edited as desired.
- Users clicking ‘Join’ inside of Canvas or clicking the Join link provided from the host will not be required to know or type this password in.
- Users that attempt to join a meeting by typing in a meeting id will be required to also provide the password for that specific meeting.
The Waiting Room feature is enabled for all users and meetings.
- When anyone joins a Zoom meeting they will first enter a virtual waiting room instead of having immediate access to your meeting.
- The host or co-host can admit specific people or click ‘admit all’ to let everyone in the meeting from the waiting room.
- The host or co-host can also remove users from a meeting back into the waiting room.
Be sure to update to the most recent release of Zoom application. See how to download/update here.
Join our live webinar on Monday, April 13 to learn more about these changes and security features.
Zoom Security Features
These increased security measures along with the knowledge on how to manage participants in Zoom meetings will provide a more secure and positive environment. Watch the video above for a quick demo of the account changes and Zoom features. Below is a list of features and tips that can help the host and co-host manage participants and prevent unwanted users from disrupting Zoom meetings. Click a feature to see step by step instructions on how to use the feature.
- Waiting Room
- Limit Screen Sharing
- Mute Particpants
- Turn Off Webcam Feed
- Limit Chat
- Remove Participant
- Lock Meeting
- Force Authentication
Basic Security Tips
- Do not post the join link to your Zoom meetings on public facing websites or social media.
- If you are hosting a public event, you should use Registration and enable manual approval so that users can be identified before being allowed access to join.
- Course meetings should be scheduled using the Zoom tab within Canvas so that the join link is only available once authenticated in Canvas.
- External guests can be invited by personal email initiations.
- Do not post your personal meeting (PMI) room id or link publicly.
- Keep an eye on the participants in your meeting and act swiftly if you see an unwanted user.
- Report any unwanted users to Zoom and UAB eLearning. Please provide the Meeting ID and date of the incident.