How do you deal with ‘Zoom Bombers’?
If you are someone who frequently hosts Zoom conference calls and deals with Zoombombers, then it is best to look for a Zoom alternative. There are Zoom alternatives that have end-to-end encryption, military-grade security, and even advanced security features.
Unfortunately, we can’t control the internet trolls during a Zoom call. If you are encountering a Zoom Bombing attack, you can use the ‘Report A User’ feature of Zoom. It is the newest tool by Zoom to limit such users from disrupting calls. The Safety team will review the report and block the user from the platform. You can also use the following precautions to restrict them from entering your conference calls.
• Don’t post the invite link in public
Zoom is the new platform to host webinars or online seminars. These events have a lot of participants. It would also put your conference call at risk. Zoom Bombers would collect invite links and send them to other trolls. Instead of posting the Zoom invite link on different social media platforms, you can email the participants. If the event is open for everyone, you can opt to Livestream the Zoom conference call instead. You can sync your Zoom conference call to Facebook by enabling it on the settings. There would be at least a 20-second delay when you Livestream it on your Facebook page or group.
• Share the passcode a few hours before the meeting
For scheduled meetings, Zoom can generate a random passcode for the conference call. You have to send the passcode to the other participants along with the Zoom invite link. You send the passcode a few hours before the conference call. Earlier this year, Zoom made it mandatory for all conference calls.
• Make use of the waiting room feature
Before you use this feature, make sure to disable the Join Before Host feature first. If you are hosting a conference call for a small group of people, you can enable the waiting room feature in Zoom. When the participant clicks on the invite link, he or she will be redirected to the waiting room first before they can have access to the conference call. Only the host can approve if the people in the waiting room can join the call. The host can admit the participants one by one or approve them all. If you see a person in the queue that seems suspicious or not on the list, remove them from the waiting room. You can also lock the meeting once all participants are in the conference call.
• Disable the annotation feature
The annotation feature allows the participants in the Zoom call to doodle over the screen. All participants will be able to see whatever is doodled on the screen. Zoom Bombers would sometimes draw or write something inappropriate when screen sharing. Disable this feature for extra precaution.
• Turn off the file-sharing feature
If file sharing between participants is unnecessary, it is best to turn off this feature as well. Sharing files during the call can get distracting. It can also allow the Zoombomber to send unsolicited photos, graphic contents, and more. You can toggle this button off by going to the ‘Meeting’ tab.
• Disable screen sharing except for the host
There were instances where the Zoombombers would screen share graphic images. To reduce cases like this, you can disable screen sharing for all participants except the host. It is one of the few Zoom features you can use to have some control over the conference call. You can opt to enable screen sharing for the host and co-host instead. You can also disable the remote control feature. This will make sure that the presenter is the only one who can control the shared presentation.
• Mute all participants
Zoom Bombers are known for randomly shouting or distracting the speakers. If only a few people will talk during the conference call, it is best to mute all participants. The host can control the mute and unmute button of all participants. During the conference call, the participants will not be able to unmute themselves. This is highly recommended for large group calls.
• Lock the meeting
As mentioned earlier, lock the meeting once all attendees are present in the call. It will also prevent people you removed from the conference call from rejoining again. Some Zoombombers can get persistent when it comes to rejoining a group call.
• Always update your Zoom application
A lot of Zoombombings happened earlier this year. It is why the developers of Zoom made recent improvements and security features to prevent them from happening. To know if you are using the latest version of Zoom, go to your profile. Click ‘Check for Updates’ and wait for the server to load. If you are using the app, always check the app store or play store for the new version.
• Protect yourself and your participants with these measures
These are some of the safety precautions that you should keep in mind. Aside from keeping the smooth flow of the conference calls, these steps can also protect your participants. Since everything is online now, it is best to make sure that everyone will have a safe online space. As mentioned, we can not control all the online trolls or Zoombombers. There are a lot of Zoom features that you need to double-check. Always be on the lookout for Zoom security updates.
If you feel like Zoom is not safe enough to hold your conference calls, there are also other Zoom alternatives that you can check out. There are other free and more secured options aside from Zoom.
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