By now, weeks/months into the Covid-19 crisis, people are flocking to video conferencing. This recent push has seen an extraordinary amount of attention placed on a Video Conferencing company/app called Zoom mainly because it is very easy to use, and most importantly it is FREE (but at what cost I ask you?!).

That said, before diving head first into blindly using any such product, due diligence should be done, especially if you are using this technology for conducting business meetings.

Sounding the Alarm!

In recent days/weeks because of this new attention, many security companies have been scrutinizing Zoom and the results have been alarming!

Issues have surfaced with things like:

• content not being properly encrypted
• meetings can easily be accessed by anyone
• the app can allow hackers access to your windows credentials
• e-mails and other personal information being left exposed
• content being routed through Chinese servers
• etc…

Don’t just take my word for it!  Here are a few of the most recent articles about Zoom:

• Zoom: Every security issue uncovered in the video chat app
• Zoom Lets Attackers Steal Windows Credentials, Run Programs via UNC Links
• Taiwan joins Canada in banning Zoom for government video conferencing
• Thousands of Zoom video calls left exposed on open Web
• New York City bans Zoom in schools, citing security concerns
• German foreign ministry restricts use of Zoom over security concerns
• Schools ban Zoom citing security and privacy concerns
• Zoom Meetings Aren’t End-To-End Encrypted, Despite Misleading Marketing
• The Zoom privacy and security issues you still need to worry about
• Zoom Sued for Fraud Over Privacy, Security Flaws
• Billionaire founder of Zoom has offloaded more than $38MILLION in company stock as the video conferencing service faces FBI investigations over alleged privacy breaches
• Hackers Are Selling a Critical Zoom Zero-Day Exploit for $500,000
• Over 500,000 Zoom accounts sold on hacker forums, the dark web

If you need more information, simply Google for countless more articles expressing serious concern regarding Zoom.

Why Compromise Your Online Security?

For most of people we are simply looking to communicate with friends and family and as such privacy isn’t truly a matter of national security.  So some people are not concerned about Zooms multiple issues.

While I can understand that mentality, I do not believe it a prudent one.

Why use an app that appears to have put user security as an after thought rather than a primary focus.  What else are we not aware of? What other aspects may be accessible by hackers? There is simply no reason to risk any form of compromise when it comes to your computer security and online identity!  With all the reports of hacking, identity theft and the likes does it make any sense to use such an app!

What To Do Then?

The reality is that there are tons of Video Conferencing applications out there, so absolutely no reason to settle for a compromised Zoom!

A few of the more well established and trustworthy app would include:

• Microsoft Skype
• Microsoft Teams
• WebEx
• FaceTime
• Google Meet

Once again, don’t just take my word for it, there are tons of articles offering a slew of alternatives:

• Zoom Alternatives: 5 Options For People Who Care About Security And Privacy
• The Best Alternatives to Zoom for Remote Meetings
• Best Zoom alternatives for video conferencing

So please don’t compromise your personal online safety in the name of a free app!  There are many excellent alternatives out there, just use one of them instead.