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Think twice before using Zoom again, Singapore teachers stop using it after “serious incidents”
Teachers in Singapore have been told to stop using Zoom to give classes after some children were allegedly exposed to inappropriate content

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Published on10 April 2020, 23:30 EDTAUTHOR
Samuel Martinez

• ZOOM

Zoom is one of the leading conferencing software apps that’s available on the market. This app has been used by millions of people lately because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it seems that it hasn’t been so effective or safe. We have recently seen reports where Google prohibits its employees from using this app over security concerns. Yesterday the US Senate also told its members to avoid using it over the same security concerns, and now, it may be completely banned in some places.
Zoom is now dealing with a new security issue that now would ban its use in Singapore because it allegedly led to child endangerment. Teachers in Singapore won’t be able to use Zoom after a “very serious incident.” According to Reuters, Singapore’s Ministry of Education has banned teachers from using the app after several young girls were exposed to obscene imagery and lewd comments from two male strangers.

The BBC also reports that 39 children were present during the conference call in which this incident took place. The class was immediately canceled, but the harm was already done. A Zoom spokesperson told the BBC that “We have been deeply upset to hear about these types of incidents,” and that “Zoom strongly condemns such behavior, and we encourage users to report any incidents of this kind directly to Zoom so we can take appropriate action.”

Alex Stamos
@alexstamos

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1247866073682030592

Some personal news...

After tweeting about Zoom last week I got a call from the CEO, @ericsyuan, and we had a great chat. Happy to say that I'll be helping Zoom out as they build up their security program.https://medium.com/@alexstamos/working-on-security-and-safety-with-zoom-2f61f197cb34 …

Working on Security and Safety with Zoom
Last week, after I posted a series of tweets discussing the security challenges for Zoom and how they could respond, I got a phone call…
medium.com
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6:07 PM - Apr 8, 2020
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Apparently, Zoom is also looking for help to fix its privacy issues, and they have asked Facebook’s former chief security officer to provide safety solutions. However, we know that Facebook isn’t well known for keeping the privacy and data of its users safe.

Source Android Authority

Think twice before using Zoom again, Singapore teachers stop using it after "serious incidents"

 

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The 6 most common Zoom issues and how to fix them
139

Mitja Rutnik / @MRutnik
April 8, 2020

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing tools out there and is fairly easy to use. But it has its share of issues and vulnerabilities that often leave users frustrated. Luckily, most of them can be fixed within minutes.
We’ve rounded up the most common Zoom problems currently causing problems for users and provided detailed instructions on how to solve them. None of the fixes require any technical knowledge, so you don’t have to be a computer wiz to get the job done.


Zoom issue #1: Camera or audio doesn’t work

Did you join a meeting and can’t hear anyone? If so, you probably closed the window that popped up before you logged into a meeting. Instead of closing it next time, make sure to press the blue “Join with Computer audio” button instead. But just in case you forget again, you can select the “Join audio” option in the bottom-left corner of the screen during a meeting and then click the already-mentioned “Join with Computer Audio” button that appears.

You can unmute yourself by pressing the spacebar.

In case you did click the blue button before joining a meeting but no one can hear you speak, your mic is likely muted. In this case, the mic icon in the bottom-left corner will be crossed out. Just click the icon to unmute yourself or press space — both options get the job done.
The same thing applies to the camera. It may be turned off by default as soon as you join a meeting, so just click the camera icon in the taskbar to turn it on. If an error message pops up saying that the video can’t be started when you click the button, the problem is with your PC’s settings. To fix this Zoom issue on Windows 10, go to the Camera settings and make sure the toggle under the “Allow apps to access your camera” section is on.

In case you have multiple cameras (like your laptop’s and a separate webcam), mics, or speaker systems (like speakers and headphones), make sure you selected the right one in the settings. Go to Settings in Zoom and then Video or Audio to select the right device.


Zoom issue #2: Zoombombing

Did an unexpected visitor join one of your meetings and started sharing filthy images and videos? If so, you’re not alone. Zoom has a major security issue that allows this to happen. It’s become so frequent, it even has a name — Zoombombing.
There are a few methods you can use to make sure something like this doesn’t happen to you. The first one is to update your Zoom app to the latest version. Zoom has implemented a few new security measures recently that more or less prevent Zoombombing altogether. In addition to a Zoom meeting’s ID, you now also need a password to get into a meeting. Additionally, all attendees are placed in a waiting room first and can then join the meeting once the host lets them in.
These improvements made by Zoom are great, but there are still a few extra security measures you have to keep in mind to prevent getting Zoombombed. The first one is to abstain from sharing your Zoom meeting’s ID publicly on Twitter or other public venues. This is just common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t follow this rule — including the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The same security measure applies to the meeting’s password as well.

EDITOR'S PICK
How to set up and use Zoom: Everything you need to know to get started
These methods should make sure unexpected visitors won’t show up in your meeting. But there are other tricks you can use for an additional layer of security. One of them is to lock the meeting after all the attendees have joined it. This means that no one will be able to join your meeting anymore, even if they have the meeting’s ID and password. To do this, click the “Participants” tab and then select the “More” option located at the bottom of the section that pops up on the right side. A few options will appear — the one to click in this case is called “Lock Meeting.”
Also keep in mind that the host can always remove unexpected visitors from a meeting with ease in case they still manage to get in somehow. To get the job done, click the “Participants” option in the taskbar, hover your mouse over a participant’s name, and click “More” followed by “Remove.”
In this case, we also suggest that you disable the option that allows removed users to log back into the meeting. You can do that by heading to Account Management > Account Settings, navigating to the “Meeting” tab, and then switching off the “Allow removed participants” toggle.


Zoom issue #3: Missing features

If popular features including the ability to only share a part of your screen with participants don’t show up in your account, there’s no need to worry. Chances are you joined a meeting with a browser instead of the dedicated app.
Although Zoom works in browsers, the functionality of the web-based version is limited compared to the app. The time it takes to connect to a meeting is also a lot longer, and in some cases, the connection doesn’t get established at all.
To fix this problem and get access to all the features offered by Zoom, download the Zoom app on your device and always use to it host a meeting or join one. Here’s the download link.


Zoom issue #4: Background noise

Background noise is the worst and can come from all the participants that don’t have their mics muted. Someone might have kids who are running around the house and screaming or a neighbor who is mowing his lawn. The noise makes it hard to hear the person speaking during a meeting and is just generally unpleasant.
This problem wouldn’t exist if everyone would just turn off their mics when joining a meeting. Only the person who speaks at a given time should have the mic turned on. Sadly, that rarely happens.
Read next: 10 Zoom tips and tricks you should know about
To solve this issue, the host can mute all participants on entry. This means that everyone will have their mic turned off by default as soon as they join a meeting, which will prevent any possible background noise. This can be done by clicking the “Participants” button in the taskbar, selecting the “More” option, and then clicking on “Mute Participants on Entry.”
You’ll also see a “Mute All” button after clicking on “Participants” that can be used throughout the meeting if people unmute themselves and background noise starts creeping in.


Zoom issue #5: Activation email wasn’t delivered

If you haven’t received the email you need to activate your Zoom account, fear not. It will come, it may just take a while. While most activation emails are sent out within seconds, some may take up to 30 minutes to make it to your inbox. There’s nothing to do on your end but to sit tight.
In case your Zoom account is managed by your company and you don’t get the activation email after 30 minutes, the administrator should whitelist the [email protected] email along with the following IP addresses:

• 198.2.179.123
• 198.2.179.168
• 198.2.179.86

Also make sure to check if the activation email from Zoom was placed in the spam folder of your email client.


Zoom issue #6: 40-minute limit and more

Zoom

Zoom’s free plan is very generous, but it has several limitations you have to keep in mind to prevent running into problems. The biggest one is that group meetings can only last for a maximum of 40 minutes. After that, the system will log out all participants and terminate the meeting. Some users aren’t aware of this and get confused after their meeting comes to an abrupt end after 40 minutes.
Another limitation is that you can’t record to the cloud, which means that sharing a recording with your team is a bit more time-consuming. Free users can record a meeting to their device, after which they can upload the recording to Google Drive or any other similar service and then share it with others. This may or may not be a big deal to you, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.


EDITOR'S PICK

Not sold on Zoom? Here are the 8 best Zoom alternatives to consider.
Also keep in mind that Zoom’s free plan supports a maximum of 100 participants per meeting and does not include a reporting dashboard that lets you see how many meetings are taking place, the total number of minutes spent in meetings, and other data. You also don’t get access to an admin panel that allows you to enable/disable certain features. These are the major limitations to keep in mind, although there are a few others.
If you think you’ll run into issues because of these limitations, we suggest that you sign up for one of Zoom’s paid plans. Pricing is affordable, starting at just $15 per month.
SIGN UP FOR A PAID PLAN
These are the most common issues experienced by Zoom users that we know of. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!


The 6 most common Zoom issues and how to fix them

 

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Zoom releases another privacy update as Google bans video chat app for employees
238

Adamya Sharma
April 9, 2020

Zoom is rolling out another minor update in response to multiple security concerns that have plagued the video conferencing software of late. The service will now hide Meeting ID numbers from the title bar so your ID won’t be exposed if you screenshot your meeting.
The change comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson accidentally revealed the Meeting ID of a sensitive cabinet call through a screenshot posted on Twitter. Following the incident, many random people attempted to crash the high-level meeting, raising major concerns about the platform’s user interface.
Although Zoom has now hidden the Meeting ID from the main chat window, it can still be found by clicking on the info icon on the meeting screen.

The service has also added a new security icon to the host’s meeting controls. This combines all of Zoom’s existing in-meeting security controls into one place, including those for locking the meeting, enabling waiting rooms, and more. The new security icon is now available on all Zoom platforms (i.e. PC, web, and app versions).

Trouble with Google
Meanwhile, Google reportedly banned Zoom from its employees’ laptops on Wednesday, citing security issues.
“Recently, our security team informed employees using Zoom Desktop Client that it will no longer run on corporate computers as it does not meet our security standards for apps used by our employees,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda told Reuters.
Google will still allow employees to use the video chat app on their phones and browsers, albeit only for personal video calls.

Zoom’s take
Given these recent security troubles, the company is getting former Facebook security chief, Alex Stamos on board as a consultant. In a blog post published on Medium, Stamos said that he was impressed by the company’s willingness to take aggressive action to become a trusted platform.
“Zoom has some important work to do in core application security, cryptographic design and infrastructure security, and I’m looking forward to working with Zoom’s engineering teams on those projects,” Stamos noted in his post.

EDITOR'S PICK
The 6 most common Zoom issues and how to fix them
CEO of Zoom, Eric Yuan has also apologized for the platform’s security problems.
“What I can promise you is that we take these issues very, very seriously. We’re looking into each and every one of them. If we find an issue, we’ll acknowledge it and we’ll fix it,” Yuan said on the call.
Apart from the aforementioned privacy update, Zoom also introduced some new security features on April 6. You can read all about them here.



Zoom releases another privacy update as Google bans video chat app for employees

 

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Ditching Zoom? Here Are 10 Video Chat Alternatives You Can Use Instead

Photothek via Getty Images—2020 Photothek
BY PATRICK LUCAS AUSTIN

APRIL 13, 2020 11:26 AM EDT
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a slew of requests and orders to stay home and work remotely as much as possible, in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. All that isolation means many are using video conferencing software like Zoom to get work done and talk to friends or family.
But Zoom has found itself in hot water after its privacy practices have been called into question. While the company promises it’s working to address those issues, you don’t have to sit there and take it — you can switch apps.
There are plenty of video chat services to switch to, each with their own advantages and disadvantages making them better suited to different uses, whether it’s to talk to grandma, play games with friends, or connect with colleagues. Here’s a look at some of the best Zoom alternatives:

For calls to Mom & Dad

WhatsApp
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Price: Free
WhatsApp may as well be synonymous with “messaging app” at this point. The Facebook-owned app is available on the web or your smartphone, lets you send SMS messages for free, supports group chats with up to 256 participants, and allows for free audio and video calls with up to four people.
Granted, WhatsApp has had a few privacy issues in the past, but its ubiquitous nature — especially abroad, where it’s the most used messaging app — makes it a great option for talking to family and friends that might not have the latest smartphone, or use the same operating system as you. WhatsApp features end-to-end encryption as well, so you can count on your calls, text, and video chats being secure.

Facebook Messenger

Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Price: Free
If you’ve got a Facebook account, you’ve probably sent one or two messages using the Messenger feature, which was split into its own standalone app a few years prior. Messenger supports a load of chat-friendly features, like emoji reactions, stickers, and up to six people on screen during a video call (though 50 people can participate).
Since it’s connected to Facebook, you can chat with any of your friends, make calls to mobile devices and web browsers, and connect to Facebook’s Portal smart displays to keep in touch while you’re relaxing at home.

FaceTime

Platforms: iOS, macOS, iPadOS
Price: Free
Available on MacOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices, FaceTime is Apple’s take on video conferencing, and features some pretty Apple-specific features. The app supports up to 32 callers at once, so you can have a pretty huge hang with your friends. If you’ve got the right iOS device, you can use effects like Memoji to superimpose your digital doppelganger on your visage, or add a little flair to your video. Since it’s end-to-end encrypted, you can count on zero hackers or ne’er-do-wells dropping in or spying on your chat (unless they’re peeking over your shoulder).

Google Duo

Platforms: iOS, Android, Nest
Price: Free
Google Duo keeps it simple, but adds some key features making it a useful, if minimal, video calling app. Supporting audio and video calls, Duo can fit 12 people on a call at once, and works on mobile devices, web browsers, and smart displays like Google’s Nest Hub Max.
Features like video voicemails, end-to-end encryption, and a neat call preview feature that works like a front door peephole to whoever’s calling you.
For game night (or happy hour) with the homies

Discord

Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
Price: Free
For playing actual video games — controller and all — check out Discord. The Slack-like chat and video conferencing app lets you create multiple channels to chat about whatever you’d like, and integrates with supported games, making it dead simple to get into groups with friends for a few hours of Call of Duty: WWII, or Divinity: Original Sin 2, among a host of other titles. Group video chats are perfect for streaming your gameplay to friends and spectators, and the voice channels make chatting through Discord easy while you play with your buddies.

Houseparty

Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free, In-app purchases
If organizing a game night is too much work, you can use Houseparty, which puts the games right into the app for you. It’s dead simple, and supports up to eight callers at once. Trivia, Head’s Up! and other popular party games are available, with in-app purchases available to expand your selection of categories and topics to keep the games going.
For those important calls and meetings

Microsoft Teams

Platforms: Windows, iOS, Android
Price: Free, Paid Subscription
Businesses looking for a new way to get video calls done can turn to Microsoft Teams, the company’s teamwork-friendly chat app. While there are better alternatives for those looking to make a chat room for a small group of friends or family, if you’re trying to get some serious work done, and love the productivity tools the company makes, Microsoft Teams is a great fit for the conference-calling, meeting-scheduling, file-sharing businessperson in you (or your boss).
A subscription to Microsoft Teams includes its Office 365 suite of apps, like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, among others. For big presentations or company-wide streams, you can use its built-in live events tools to share your screen and host events without jumping through too many hoops.

Jitsi

Platforms: Web, PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android
Price: Free

Jitsi is a secure, and free video conferencing service perfect for those one-off calls you’ve got to make, or for bringing together people on multiple types of devices. The open-source video conferencing service works on basically any platform you’ve got at your disposal, and doesn’t require you to create an account to create password-protected conference rooms and make encrypted calls. Being open-source and developer-friendly, Jitsi’s software powers other video conferencing services, like 8×8 and Rocket.chat.
Available in multiple configurations for everyone from personal users to small businesses, you can use the Jitsi Meet web service to make calls from your browser, collaborate on documents, share your screen, and send messages in its chat room.

BigBlueButton

Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Price: Free
BigBlueButton is an option for educators looking for an alternative, less expensive way to connect with students and teach remotely. The open-source video conferencing software requires you (or your IT administrator) to set up a server for use, but once it’s up and running you’ll have access to a slew of features. In addition to video calls, you can take polls, share your whiteboard or screen, chat publicly and privately, or send students to breakout rooms so they can chat amongst themselves about a project. The platform’s API also supports integrations with a host of education-specific tools and services, including Moodle, Schoology, and SmartClass. Educators should be sure to follow privacy laws and other best practices regarding chatting with minors, of course.

Skype

Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Xbox, Alexa
Price: Free, Paid Subscription
The veteran of the video calling game, Skype is a no-brainer when it comes to video calls. Features like audio and video call recording, live transcription, and file-sharing make it a powerful tool for one-on-one calls or even group calls with friends or clients. You can make calls to other Skype users, and with a Skype to Phone subscription, you can make unlimited international calls to mobile and landline phones. It even has a Zoom-like free conference call service, where users can drop in using just a link, no account required.
Skype is also available on smart devices like Amazon Echo devices, so you can make audio or video calls from the comfort of wherever you’re sitting around. If you’ve got an Xbox One and an audio headset, you can even make voice calls from your couch through Microsoft’s game console.


Ditching Zoom? Here Are 10 Video Chat Alternatives

 

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Zoom Alternatives

ZoomAlternatives
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Weighing your options? Check out these 5 alternatives that could help you accomplish your goal.

Cisco Webex Teams
4 Triggers ● 8 Actions
Cisco Webex Teams brings teams together instantly in spaces where you can send messages, video chat, and share files, all in one place. Working together is simple and secure.
VIEW DETAILS

Crowdcast
9 Triggers ● 1 Action
Crowdcast is a live video platform for hosting webinars, livestreams, workshops, interviews and online summits. Offering ticketing for paid live events, detailed analytics and integrations with CRM and marketing platforms.
VIEW DETAILS

GoToMeeting
2 Triggers ● 1 Action
GoToMeeting by LogMeIn is a world-class video conference software that makes it easier than ever to do business effectively even if you aren't in the same room.
VIEW DETAILS

Intermedia AnyMeeting
5 Triggers ● 3 Actions
Hold online meetings and webinars to connect with sales prospects, clients and new potential leads.
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Cisco Webex Meetings
1 Trigger ● 0 Actions
Cisco Webex Meetings is the leading enterprise solution for video conferencing, online meetings, screen share, and webinars.
VIEW DETAILS


Zoom Alternatives and Free Competitors | Zapier

 

[Suneesh Sharma]

Zoom Alternatives

ZoomAlternatives
OverviewIntegrationsHelpAlternatives


Weighing your options? Check out these 5 alternatives that could help you accomplish your goal.

Cisco Webex Teams
4 Triggers ● 8 Actions
Cisco Webex Teams brings teams together instantly in spaces where you can send messages, video chat, and share files, all in one place. Working together is simple and secure.
VIEW DETAILS

Crowdcast
9 Triggers ● 1 Action
Crowdcast is a live video platform for hosting webinars, livestreams, workshops, interviews and online summits. Offering ticketing for paid live events, detailed analytics and integrations with CRM and marketing platforms.
VIEW DETAILS

GoToMeeting
2 Triggers ● 1 Action
GoToMeeting by LogMeIn is a world-class video conference software that makes it easier than ever to do business effectively even if you aren't in the same room.
VIEW DETAILS

Intermedia AnyMeeting
5 Triggers ● 3 Actions
Hold online meetings and webinars to connect with sales prospects, clients and new potential leads.
VIEW DETAILS

Cisco Webex Meetings
1 Trigger ● 0 Actions
Cisco Webex Meetings is the leading enterprise solution for video conferencing, online meetings, screen share, and webinars.
VIEW DETAILS


Zoom Alternatives and Free Competitors | Zapier

Zoom and cisco web meetings are best

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6000 using Tapatalk

 

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WebEx by Cisco

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WebEx is by Cisco and much safer than zoom.
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You can use

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams - Apps on Google Play

Chat, meet, and collaborate to achieve more together, all in one place on Teams

play.google.com

Raman Mittal

 

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