Many people have complained about Zoom repeatedly. Are calls on the platform truly safe? Some meetings have been rudely disrupted by hackers and this shows how vulnerable the platform is. Hackers have taken advantage of this vulnerability to try to get sensitive information from individuals and businesses. The reason why Zoom isn’t safe is that it lacks data encryption. So, anyone can easily access your data. In this article, we will be showing you steps to follow to handle Zoom’s security issue and enjoy your online conference calls without disruptions.
How to Keep Your Zoom Call Secure from Hackers
So, we will list some of the easiest and most commonly used methods to protect Zoom calls. You can follow them one by one in order to ensure the protection and privacy of your Zoom meetings.
1. Use a password to protect your meeting
This is one of the most straightforward and simple ways to get keep your conference calls free of intruders. All you need to do is log in to your account on the Zoom website. Then, go to the Settings option and click on Require a password when scheduling new meetings. So, only those who have the password will be able to gain access to your meetings.
2. Lock the meeting after it starts
Many people leave their meetings open while it is ongoing. So, people who are late can still join them. However, one of the ways you can secure your meeting is to lock it down after it commences. Immediately you get all the wanted people online, click on Manage participants, then click on More. There’s a Lock option under that section. By locking it, you keep everyone else out.
3. Don’t leave the screen sharing on
Zoom hackers have been found to do things like share erotic movies or things completely unrelated to your meeting when your screen sharing feature is turned on. When this happens, you can’t do anything to stop it. So, to prevent this from even happening at all, turn off screen sharing. To do this go to Security when the meeting is on. You’ll find the option to turn it off.
4. Join the conference early
If you’re not the host, the meeting is more secure when you join before the host. You will find this option under the account settings on the Zoom website.
5. Don’t use your personal ID for Zoom meetings
Instead of using your personal ID which hackers may easily get, a safer way to organize your meetings is by using a randomly generated ID (the system will do this for you). Also, do not share the ID to your meetings in public places online, like on Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit. Keep it within the group of people participating in the meeting.
6. Don’t share files during the meeting
Desist from sharing files during online meetings, because there is no way to tell if these files are infected. Anyone can easily share files carrying viruses and infect everyone’s devices. So, it is best to turn off the file-sharing feature while the meeting is ongoing.
7. Use the waiting room
Zoom has a waiting room feature that involves throwing all members in the virtual waiting room before manually adding or removing them from the meeting.
8. Keep your software updated
Since Zoom discovered that the software was vulnerable, they’ve been working hard to make it better and safer. So, as they make new features, they release updates. Make sure that your Zoom application is up to date to ensure that it is as safe as possible.
9. Remove every unwanted person from the room
Some people join random Zoom calls and start sharing files and disturbing other participants. If you find people like this, make sure you throw them out before they can do any major damages like infecting users’ systems.
10. Use a VPN
This is the ultimate way to make your Zoom online conference safe and secure. The major problem with Zoom is that it has no data encryption. By using a VPN, you have easily solved this problem, and you can be sure that no one is going to hack into your meetings.
7 Best VPN Services for Zoom
So, we have talked about using a VPN in our method 10. If you wonder which VPN services are best for securing your Zoom meetings, we have a nice list for you. Use one of these VPNs before connecting to a Zoom call to ensure its privacy and security.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN you can to secure your Zoom calls. With ExpressVPN, you can easily access restricted content and remain safe from hackers. With multiple servers across 94 countries, you will experience superfast connections and will enjoy your call without any hiccups. To protect your privacy and keep you secure, Zoom uses OpenVPN encryption, DNS leak protection, obfuscated servers, and a kill switch. Apart from enjoying your conference calls, you can also use ExpressVPN to access other services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
2. CyberGhost VPN
If you’re looking for an affordable VPN with high-speed servers that also works well with Zoom, you should go for CyberGhost VPN. This VPN doesn’t have advanced obfuscation, but it protects your data using its DNS leak protection and a kill switch. It also gives you the option of selecting OpenVPN TCP over port 443. You can use CyberGhost VPN on your laptops and mobile phones, and it works smoothly on 7 devices at the same time.
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is another cheap Zoom VPN service. You don’t have to spend more than $2 a month to start having secure Zoom meetings. One of Surfshark’s biggest features is its offer of unlimited connections. So, you can continue having conferences without getting interrupted. It has a zero logs policy, so your data is always safe. Also, it uses a “MultiHop” feature to give you an added layer of security by re-encrypting your data. You can use it on any device you own, as it supports iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
4. IPVanish
IPVanish is another feature-packed VPN that you can use to do various things apart from having secure zoom meetings. Like some of the VPNs on this list, IPVanish also has a zero logs policy. Your data is never with them, so it can’t be leaked to your ISP or anyone who wants it. To keep your Zoom meetings secure, IPVanish also has features like SOCKS5 proxy, advanced obfuscation, OpenVPN encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. It doesn’t offer a superfast connection, but it is a very decent choice for your Zoom meetings. If you need any help setting it up, you have access to online customer support.
5. PureVPN
PureVPN, a Hong Kong-based VPN is another VPN service you can use to ensure safe zoom meetings. It has over 2,000 servers across 140 countries and provides you with apps to do almost everything you need. To keep your zoom meetings secure, it uses DNS and IPv6 leak protection, split tunnelling, a smart kill switch, and also payment via bitcoin option (for other services that need it). You can use your PureVPN on up to 10 devices simultaneously, and it has apps for macOS, IOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. PureVPN is not the most affordable VPN, but it is a good choice for safer Zoom meetings.
6. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) has been taken to court several times and its security is unbreakable. This service has a very strict no-logs policy that even government agencies cannot crack. It uses strong AES-256 encryption and a kill switch to keep your data secure. You can also automatically connect to your VPN when opening apps like Zoom and Netflix, so there can’t be cases where you get hacked before you forgot to turn on your VPN. You can use Private Internet Access on up to 10 devices simultaneously. If you don’t. If you’re not sure you want to go for PIA, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, you can unsubscribe and get your money back if you don’t like it.
7. VyprVPN
VyprVPN can easily switch servers, so you’re always connected to the fastest server. It uses a Chameleon technology and strong encryption to keep you secure and hide you from the most secure countries (even those where VPNs are banned). These features also keep you safe from hackers who may want to get into your Zoom meetings. All the features of VyprVPN are easy to use, making it one of the best picks for safe Zoom conferences.
Zoom is still working on getting its platform in the best state, and it is constantly putting out updates. But, it is not secure yet. It is up to you to keep your meetings secure by using a good VPN and carrying out other practices to keep out hackers.