CMU to Update Default Zoom Settings
Your Zoom Settings Are Changing: Here's What You Need to Know
We've communicated with you before about Zoombombing, incidents where hackers disrupt Zoom sessions by sharing disturbing images and/or hostile language, and how to secure your meetings. As work-from-home orders remain in place, these security breaches are increasing.
According to the United States Department of Justice, the FBI has reported a rise in Zoombombing across the United States. The increase has been so significant that law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level in several states are banding together to form a task force and broadcast a warning: anyone who hacks a web conference, no matter what the platform, can be charged with state or federal crimes.
On June 16, 2020, Computing Services will be setting defaults for some key features that are geared toward stopping Zoombombers.
New Default Settings
- Host-only sharing - All CMU Zoom meetings are now restricted by default so that so that only the meeting host can share. You do have the option to change that this as needed from within a meeting or within the advanced your Zoom profile settings of your account.
- Passwords Required - Passwords will be enabled for all meetings. Whenever a host schedules a Zoom meeting, a password will automatically be assigned. The password is already embedded in the meeting link, so participants only need to click on the link to join. For security purposes, this default setting will be locked for all CMU Zoom accounts.
New Security Button
In addition, the recent Zoom update contains a Security button that will allow you to take charge of your own meetings. Remove participants and enable the waiting room from one location.
Even though these settings are in place, the most important factor in stopping Zoombombing is you. Never post Zoom join links or Meeting IDs on websites, social media or any public forum.
If you need to share meeting links publicly, consider the Zoom Registration feature for advanced meeting management and public links designed for sharing.
This update was published by CMU Computing Services on June 7, 2020. See the original update here: https://www.cmu.edu/computing/news/2020/zoom-settings.html