Google bans its employees from using Zoom over security concerns

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Google is issuing a ban on the use of the Zoom teleconferencing platform for employees. The company is citing security concerns with the app that have arisen since Zoom became one of the most popular services for free video chatting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The news was first reported by BuzzFeed News earlier today.

Google emailed employees last week about the ban, telling workers who had the Zoom app installed on their Google-provided machines that the software would soon no longer function. It is worth noting that Google offers its own enterprise Zoom competitor called Meet as part of its G Suite offering.

“We have long had a policy of not allowing employees to use unapproved apps for work that are outside of our corporate network,” Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda tells The Verge. “Recently, our security team informed employees using Zoom Desktop Client that it will no longer run on corporate computers as it does not meet our security standards for apps used by our employees. Employees who have been using Zoom to stay in touch with family and friends can continue to do so through a web browser or via mobile.”

Even well before the COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on Zoom’s vulnerabilities, the company was facing criticism for lax privacy and security protections, like in July of last year when a macOS flaw allowed a Zoom URL to forcibly activate a MacBook webcam. Since Zoom has emerged as a leading teleconferencing provider during the pandemic, however, the platform’s litany of other issues have been magnified, especially around the ease with which random strangers can locate and jump into Zoom calls. The practice is now known as “Zoombombing,” and the FBI says it will prosecute people for it.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/google-bans-its-employees-from-using-zoom-over-security-concerns/ar-BB12l539

[msongs]

1. if google is providing the machines, it has an interest in protecting them nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Oh absolutely

There are a lot of restrictions on company computers.

[Calista241]

3. Google owns and sells a competing product to Zoom, Google Meet. n/t

[frazzled]

4. They now require a password and waiting room

When you are schedule a Zoom meeting a password is created, which is sent to your invitees to enter. Hosts admit invitees individually (or as a group) from the waiting room. This was all put into effect this weekend.

As for me, I could care less if some random stranger wants to look in on one of our (increasingly frequent) Zoom cocktail hours. All they're going to see or hear is a bunch of older people drinking wine or martinis and comparing amusing notes on our boredom and/or domestic mishaps.

Spouse is lecturing on Zoom, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind "auditors." They'd probably get bored and leave.

[Igel]

6. Reputation often lags reality.

And often those whose perceptions lag reality spout off about being up to date and fact-based.

Part of the security lapses was the ability to take over the whiteboard and share the screen--to do offensive things or "share" offensive information.

Another was to be able to record using the webcam.

Some of the lapses were severe, but I never got a sense as to where the breach was. Was it getting access, platform-independent? Did it depend on the platform? Just heard anecdotes about how horrible it was to see what was done, little more. (In other words, they reported primarily on somebody else's emotions, everything else being backdrop. Which is fine if you're into confusing news with gossip.)

[msongs]

5. one supects googles interest is securing what else is on the machines, not just a zoom crasher

[crickets]

8. Exactly. Can't blame them for that. nt

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Zoom is working on it, but here's stuff ANY Zoom user should know...

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-prevent-zoom-bombing

I've had a paid account for a year or so and there's stuff here I didn't know.