As we recommended in our posts addressing co-parenting during the coronavirus crisis, most of us are suddenly becoming regular users of ZOOM. It’s a great tool for keeping active communication with co-parents, teachers, coaches, and all those essential to supporting your family in these uncertain times.

Potential Problems with Zoom 

Two trusted sources for consumer protection advice have just issued warnings about potential problems using ZOOM such as unauthorized Facebook sharing, password compromises, and unwelcome and uninvited interrupters, now called “Zoombombing.”  After Consumer Reports issued warnings, the ZOOM company made numerous upgrades to its software, so some of the problems have been resolved. 

Another great consumer advocate, Bob Sullivan, also reported about Zoombombing, and provided some great tips to explain what steps you can take to protect yourself when using ZOOM.  Combining the Consumer Reports advice and Bob Sullivan’s tips, here’s a list of security tips.

The TOP TEN security steps you may want to follow when you are hosting a ZOOM meeting: 

  1. Don’t host a meeting using your personal meeting ID. Let ZOOM generate a new meeting ID for every meeting and require invitees to use a password. 
  2. Set screen sharing to “host only” but also know where to click the eject button so you can act quickly to stop the meeting if an unwanted guest takes over the screen. 
  3. Use Gallery View instead of Speaker view so you can see what everyone is doing. 
  4. Don’t Start Early and don’t allow users to log in before the host starts.
  5. Use the “Waiting Room” option which allows the host to individually admit who enters the meeting, then lock the door after everyone arrives.  Choosing to “lock meeting” will stop anyone else from joining the meeting. 
  6. Never post a ZOOM meeting link or ID in a public place (like Facebook or any social media)
  7. Turn off the feature that allows participants to chat privately (like passing notes in class).
  8. Turn off the option to record the meeting. 
  9. Pay attention to your surroundings, so that personal photos or items you don’t want others to see are not visible. You can choose to use a personal photo as a background. 
  10. Read the privacy policy to know what information Zoom can collect about you and what they do with it. If you do not want to receive targeted ads from Zoom after visiting zoom.us, you can click the “Cookie Preferences” link at the very bottom of any page on the site and adjust the slider to “Required Cookies.”

The family law lawyers at Molly B. Kenny, LLC, hope that all families are focused on keeping safe and healthy during this crisis.  We know that this crisis is time-limited and we look forward to being fully available to you to address your legal needs in the near future. Contact us if you have any questions or require immediate assistance call (425) 460-0550 or reach out to us online.​

Molly B. Kenny
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Divorce and Child Custody Attorney Serving Bellevue and Seattle Washington
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