Zoom for Mac?

[question everything]

Family members suggest that I download Zoom for Mac to better communicate with them. (We are dinosaurs, no "smarphones" no snapchat or something).

A simple glance I read something about the Cloud. We do not use the Cloud, either. Do we need it?

Thanks.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

1. Zoom is a good platform and free for low-time users.

But if family members have iPhones or other Apple products you can use Facetime (also free). Zoom has some recently discovered security issues so you use your computer to store banking or online shopping passwords, you might want to wait until they are patched.

[Louis1895]

2. Facetime is a great option if others family members have Macs.

And I apologize, since you claim to be a dinosaur, I just had to find an image of a dinosaur using a computer...



Good luck with the video chatting!

[Lulu KC]

4. We use Facetime for family

and I hate to say it, but Zoom doesn't do the frozen face thing that FT seems to do. But then, it could steal all your data, so maybe a frozen face once in a while isn't so bad.
(The fear of Zoom on top of everything else is beyond my fear capacity, I just realized.)

[question everything]

8. Yes, there is some resemblance. I like the yellow plaid vest

I think that Facetime is one on one while Zoom can have several?

[Lulu KC]

16. Facetime can have up to 31 users n/t

[question everything]

6. Thanks! Yes, I've read about it but did not make the connection

At some point - perhaps downloaded an App which I do not use - I lost most of my addresses which were floating on the computer but not in the address book but instead found a Facetime link on each one which remained.

I think that the purpose of Zoom is to connect more than one while Facetime is only one on one?

[Lulu KC]

17. Facetime only good if you all use Apple--up to 31 devices n/t

[Lulu KC]

3. It's super easy and we're all in the Cloud

Last edited Fri Apr 3, 2020, 04:35 PM - Edit history (1)

The cloud just means that you're in the same place on the internet at the same time, really. Oversimplification. It's the zone where we can all go together. Like the office filing room instead of the drawer in your desk.

I have read the Zoom stuff about being afraid, and I don't think I'm interesting enough to get their attention. Journalists and other people who are actually being watched are the ones at risk, from what I can tell.

[question everything]

9. Don't you have to pay to be in the cloud?

Or is it iCloud? I think that many keep their finances there, I never will.

[lettucebe]

11. Services located on services world-wide are simply called "the cloud"

So when you hear "the cloud" it just means it's on the Internet.

Some places do sell private services, such as iCloud (Apple), so that's the difference. Just note whether something wants a fee to use their "cloud" service.

[question everything]

12. Thnaks. I will

[Lulu KC]

15. No, you don't have to pay to be in the cloud

You have to pay for some subscriptions that live in the cloud--but Zoom is free unless you go pro. And you have to pay to store some things in the cloud instead of let's say, on your own hard drive, but Zoom--free.

[Alex4Martinez]

19. You're already in the cloud, examples:

Before there were iCloud and Google file storage accounts, our email was mostly in the cloud.

If fact, I would use my Yahoo mail account folders to store large attachments (in the cloud), so that I could be on any computer and go online to my Yahoo mail and find those large files.

Now it's been commercialized and more and more useful and widely used.

Yes, you can pay for larger storage with Google, iCloud, and others, but everyone gets to use the cloud.

Re: Zoom. I work with schools and it turns out to be by far the most common tool for online distance learning among the high school teachers I support.

Other options include Google Hangouts and Facetime. Both are good.

[targetpractice]

5. Zoom has some security problems, especially on Macs...

... "Shady" installation practices, and history of security flaws.

I've been a mac user since 1985... I wouldn't use that software... Use FaceTime or Skype instead.

https://9to5mac.com/2020/04/02/zoom-fixes-malware-like-macos-installer/

[SmartVoter22]

20. Me too. Started on a Color Macintosh

Never looked back.

On the video Zoom. My doctor and I used a Zoom video chat for an important followup. Worked very well on iPhone 7+, which he could visually examine my post-surgical incision, with the great clarity the phone provided. The security issue appears to only be able to be breached via who initiated the video conference, not the guest.

[MR. ELECTABLE]

7. Watch out

Installing the Zoom software on your Mac (or PC) probably exposes it to security issues. Last summer it was discovered that they were installing an insecure web server without telling users, which was allowing hackers to access the camera, among other things. Apple had to force a software update to remove the web server software because there were so many issues.

More: https://daringfireball.net/2020/03/regarding_zoom

If you want to use Zoom and you have an iPhone or an iPad, I would suggest installing it on that because applications are sandboxed and cannot introduce these sorts of security issues.

[question everything]

10. Thanks. I do have an iPad so this is a possibility

We on occasions use Skype which I like but, again, my PC brother considers this, well, a dinosaur.

[Tetrachloride]

13. 2nd user account

If Zoom is required for you , but only occasionally , you might consider a 2nd user account.

FaceTime and WhatsApp have been fine for me if the call is not too international.

[question everything]

14. Thanks. Will look into this

[Tetrachloride]

18. I retract my recommendation for Zoom, in any use.

Zoom's encryption can travel thru China and its weak.

Zoom is banned from my computer.

https://www.yahoo.com/now/zoom-admits-calls-were-routed-001232785.html