We are aware of reports of Zoombombing occurring at other universities and would like for you to know we are taking measures to prevent this from occurring in our environment. (Zoombombing is the name given to gate-crashing Zoom meetings or when trolls use Zoom’s screen sharing feature to interrupt and disrupt online meetings and classes with disturbing imagery).
The following precautions currently exist in our environment
- “Use Personal Meeting ID” is defaulted to off – using these IDs is a key entry point for attackers
- “Require Meeting Password” is defaulted to on – this helps protect against unauthorized entries, adding a second layer of security on top of just having the meeting link
The following are things you can do to prevent Zoombombing from occurring in your Zoom meetings:
- Keep links to Zoom meetings private. This will prevent unwanted participants.
- Use 2 factor authentication by logging into Office 365 or Canvas and using Zoom through those integrations
- If not using the Zoom link on the Canvas course menu, instructors should post meeting links on a Canvas page rather than a public page or forum
- Stop other participants from screen sharing.
- Control who enters a meeting with the waiting room feature
- Lock the meeting after it starts
- When you’re in the meeting, click Participants at the bottom of your Zoom window. In the participants’ pop-up box, you will see a button that says Lock Meeting.
- Turn off file transfer
Following these measures will reinforce keeping a safe and productive environment.
For more information visit gozoom.wustl.edu or check out the Zoom Cheatsheet.