Zoom Releases “Anti-Zoombombing” Security Features

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Zoom has released new security features that will help fight off unwanted meeting intrusions, or “Zoombombing”, so that we can all have our socially-distant virtual thanksgiving family dinners in peace.

In a blog post on November 16, Matt Nagel, security and privacy PR lead at the American communications technology company announced that Zoom had released the two new anti-zoombombing features.

The first new feature gives hosts and co-hosts the ability to temporarily pause all meeting activity such as recording, chat, screen sharing and breakout rooms. This feature will be enabled by default for all users.

In their post, Nagel explains: “The hosts or co-host will be asked if they would like to report a user from their meeting, share any details and optionally include a screenshot. Once they click ‘submit’, the reported user will be removed from their meeting, and Zoom’s Trust & Safety team will be notified. Hosts and co-hosts may resume their meeting by individually re-enabling the features they’d like to use. Zoom will also send them an email after the meeting to gather more information.”

The second new feature is one where meeting participants can now report disruptive users directly from the video app client. This isn’t enabled by default – but if a host or co-host enables this feature, it will give all participants in the chat the ability to report a user in-app.

These new features will offer added protection for families and friends who are social-distancing, but would still like to spend thanksgiving together virtually through Zoom.  Zoom also clarified that one of the best ways to prevent unwanted interruptions during virtual meetings is to never share your meeting ID or passcode on a public site or social media.

Story via Tripwire