From Zoom to Skype to FaceTime — video conferencing has increasingly become the norm for professional and personal contacts during COVID-19. While everyone has been sheltering at home, these video platforms provide an accessible way to stay connected with coworkers from the office and relatives alike. Of course, it hasn’t been purely stress free to embrace this video-centric world. A report from CNBC highlighted the psychological concern of video conferencing fatigue.
Beyond the mental toll staring at a screen for hours on end might be having on all of us, there are some serious cybersecurity concerns posed by video conferencing.
A blog post from Palo Alto Networks discusses some of the different kinds of threats you might face through video conferencing. One example is “meeting bombing,” when an uninvited guest joins a video call for the sole purpose of listening to or disrupting the conversation. A disruption could be in the form of sharing inappropriate or compromising media content or links. Malicious links are serious because they can lead to malware that could infect your computer.
Washington Technology Solutions suggests that when using a platform like Zoom, for instance, be sure to only record the video call if you plan to use or review that content later. Don’t automatically record your meetings. If you initiate a call, set it as a “private meeting” that requires a password login. This could also involve sending an email invite, making sure only people with the private link can access the call. Another commonsense recommendation is limiting screen sharing to “Host Only” — you, the host, has control over how the video is shared. If there is an unwanted participant in your call you can “uninvite” guests. You can then block them from reentering the call.
BDO Digital outlines their own suggestions. They suggest you check that your software is updated. Why? Cyber criminals are more likely to use older versions of the video conferencing app or platform. With that in mind, you should also check in with your guests to make sure they are all using the most up-to-date version of the software. Once the meeting starts, you should also be sure to lock your meeting and proceed once you know it is private and secure.
In short, while video conferencing has become a necessary part of daily life, be sure to engage in calls that put cybersecurity front and center. This protects not just your own privacy but that of the people you are keeping in touch with, screen-to-screen.