One of the most prominent threats of Zoombombing is the ability to listen in or “attack” specific meetings with sensitive information, which can lead to the theft of information or a national security threat. One example is a recent U.S. government call being “Zoombombed” three times as they were hosting a briefing on women’s rights in Afghanistan, showcasing that any user is susceptible to an attack. A recent threat post article explains that government officials were unable to see if any sensitive data was accessed, but a motion went out to all government officials to immediately stop using Zoom and questions of China’s involvement in the app came into question.
“Currently the United States, as one of the economic leaders in the world, is perceived to be the biggest target of cyber espionage,” explains Prof. Laura Pinto Hansen, from Western New England University, USA, in Criminal Activities and the Deep Web (IGI Global). However, it is not only the United States that is being targeted for sensitive information, as many countries and governments are dealing with the theft of intellectual property or security breaches, with an increase of occurrences in countries including Tibet, China, and Russia, she continues to explain.2
However, not all those who are “Zoombombing” are your traditional hackers, but some are teenagers gathering in online communities through Reddit, Discord, and internet forums, sharing Zoom credentials to target specific professors or classes. These teenagers are often labeled as “internet trolls,” or people who seek to start controversy online to get a response from users.
“[T]roll behavior emerges from a combination of psychological and situational factors. This disquieting new form of mob mentality has come to be known as the online disinhibition effect,” explains Prof. Leslie J. Reynard, from Washburn University, USA, in Developing Safer Online Environments for Children: Tools and Policies for Combatting Cyber Aggression (IGI Global). She continues to explain that due to the anonymity of online platforms, individuals will feel safe in expressing disapproval of experiences with college professors, which can manifest into anger and lead “the individual to turn to an anonymous forum in order to strike back at the perceived transgressor.”3
These coordinated attacks paired with security weaknesses in Zoom’s platform make it an ideal platform to hack and exploit.
How to Mitigate Being Zoombombed
Although Zoom is working on increasing security measures, it is nearly impossible to mitigate these attacks, especially if the meeting is a public event. But The New York Times outlines ways users can keep their meetings and personal information safe. These guidelines include:
- Create a Meeting Password: The article suggests keeping your events private and only inviting intended users through private emails or messages. Do not share it on social media and add an extra layer of security through setting a meeting password for attendees.
- Create a Waiting Room: Zoom has a virtual waiting room, where the host can review those who are joined into the conference call, and the host should only select those who are invited to the meeting. Additionally, they can verify their identity by having each user turn on their camera.
- Set Screen Sharing to “Host-Only”: Make sure that the app’s screen sharing functionality only allows the host to showcase images or talk. Additionally, they mention ensuring that the annotation feature is turned off, as “trolls” can draw offensive words or shapes on the host’s presentation.
- Restrict Other Features for Audience Members: Other features should be turned off for the audience members, including blocking private chats, file transfers, and custom backgrounds.
- Download the Latest Version of Zoom: Zoom has put time and energy into increasing security features and has included a streamlined way to report “Zoombombers,” which is available through the latest version of the software.
This new wave of attacks is causing governmental officials, tech companies, and users to question the applications they are utilizing in this “remote work” era, showcasing the importance for users to understand the threats that they face. In an increasingly digital world, these threats will continue to grow and now, more than ever, it is important to continue to educate users to ensure that companies and institutions have the proper cybersecurity measures in place.
In support of mitigating cyber security threats, the latest research and information on cybersecurity, identify theft, and the dark web is available through Criminal Activities and the Deep Web (IGI Global), edited by Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A, Executive Editor of IGI Global, USA. This comprehensive encyclopedia provides the most diverse findings and new methodologies for monitoring and regulating the use of online tools as well as hidden areas of the internet, including the deep and dark web.
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Complimentary Research Articles and Chapters on Cyber Security, Remote Working, and Online Education:In response to the timeliness and importance of this topic, we have made all of the below articles and chapters complimentary to access. As such, please feel free to integrate these resources into your research and share them across your network. View All Chapters and Articles on This Topic The “View All Chapters and Articles on This Topic” navigates to IGI Global’s InfoSci-Demo Account, which provides a sample of the IGI Global content available through IGI Global’s InfoSci-Books (5,900+ e-books) and InfoSci-Journals (185+ e-journals) databases. If interested in having full access to this peer-reviewed research content, recommend these valuable research tools to your library. For Journalists Interested in Additional Trending Research: Contact IGI Global’s Marketing Team at marketing@igi-global.com or 717-533-8845 ext. 100 to access additional peer-reviewed resources to integrate into your latest news stories. |
Featured Publications Surrounding Cyber Security, Remote Working, and Online Education:
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| | Research Anthologies on Cyber Law, Privacy, and Security: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Copyright: © 2019 | Pages:1,040 | ISBN: 9781522588979|, EISBN: 9781522588986
Through this book examines current internet and data protection laws and their impact on user experience and cybercrime, and explores the need for further policies that protect user identities, data, and privacy. |
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| | Research Anthology on Online Course Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Copyright: © 2018 | Pages: 2,240 | ISBN: 9781522554721 | EISBN: 9781522554738
This publication is a comprehensive reference source for the latest scholarly material on the trends, techniques, and management of online and distance-learning environments and examines the benefits and challenges of these developments. Highlighting a range of pertinent topics, such as blended learning, social presence, and educational online games, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for administrators, developers, instructors, staff, technical support, and students actively involved in teaching in online learning environments. |
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| | Anywhere Working and the New Era of Telecommuting
Prof. Yvette Blount (Macquarie University, Australia) and Prof. Marianne Gloet (University of Melbourne, Australia)
Copyright: © 2017 | Pages: 295 | ISBN: 9781522523284 | EISBN: 9781522523291
This scholarly publication is an essential research publication for the latest information on flexible work arrangements and how these are made possible through recent developments in ICT. Featuring extensive coverage on a range of topics such as virtual offices, digital inclusion, and telehealth, this book is ideally designed for researchers, professionals, and managers seeking current research on the methods, benefits, and disadvantages of non-traditional working environments. |
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| | Ensuring Quality and Integrity in Online Learning Programs
Prof. Esther Smidt (West Chester University of Pennsylvania, USA) and Prof. Rui Li (West Chester University of Pennsylvania, USA)
Copyright: © 2019 | Pages: 325| ISBN: 9781522578444| EISBN: 9781522578451
This scholarly publication is an essential reference source that delves into the requirements and essential technologies needed to create and encourage effective and inclusive online educational programs. The book examines and offers best practices for all factors that contribute to building quality online programs including faculty buy-in and training; student motivation, interest, and retention; program planning, pedagogy, and design; program administration; and the use of appropriate and up-to-date technology. Administrators, educators, online program directors, instructional designers, curriculum developers, faculty, researchers, and students will benefit from the emerging research contained within this publication. |
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1O'Donnell, E., & O'Donnell, L. (2020). The Dark Side of Engaging With Social Networking Sites (SNS). In M. Khosrow-Pour D.B.A. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Criminal Activities and the Deep Web (pp. 615-627). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-9715-5.ch042
2Hansen, L. P. (2020). The Spy Who Never Has to Go Out Into the Cold: Cyber Espionage. In M. Khosrow-Pour D.B.A. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Criminal Activities and the Deep Web (pp. 258-270). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-9715-5.ch017
3Reynard, L. J. (2020). Troll Farm: Anonymity as a Weapon for Online Character Assassination. In I. Management Association (Ed.), Developing Safer Online Environments for Children: Tools and Policies for Combatting Cyber Aggression (pp. 230-265). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-1684-3.ch010