Video Chatting in the Time of Coronavirus

By Brian Rowell, Marketing and Communications Specialist I

With most of America being told at this time to stay home and avoid unnecessary interactions to try and control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, families and friends across the nation are trying to figure out ways to communicate and stay connected to help ease the potential feelings of isolation brought on by these orders. One avenue people are using to communicate with each other is video chatting. Sure, a telephone does the job, but more and more people are using these video chatting apps to try and achieve that face-to-face contact feel. One of the most popular apps out there that people are using for this is Zoom. The company stated that, in March, 200 million people used the video chat app on a daily basis, up from just 10 million users in December.

Sadly, Zoom’s popularity has given rise to a phenomenon known as “Zoombombing,” where intruders hijack video calls and start posting hate speech and offensive images. Zoombombing has exposed a darker side of the app’s lax security protocols which have caused the launch of an FBI investigation and a class action lawsuit. Since late March, the company has frozen work on new application features to place focus on implementing tougher security and privacy protocols that we all need and expect in this age where we are sharing more of our identity online.

While there are lots of video conferencing alternatives to Zoom – many of which are listed below — if you feel more comfortable with navigating through Zoom, the FBI has posted an article containing minor details about Zoom’s security issue and what you can do to keep your sessions secure. The following steps should be taken to mitigate teleconference hijacking threats:

Do not make meetings or classrooms public. In Zoom, there are two options to make a meeting private: require a meeting password or use the waiting room feature and control the admittance of guests.
Do not share a link to a teleconference or classroom on an unrestricted publicly available social media post. Provide the link directly to specific people.
Manage screen sharing options. In Zoom, change screen sharing to “Host Only.”
Ensure users are using the updated version of remote access/meeting applications. In January 2020, Zoom updated their software. In their security update, the teleconference software provider added passwords by default for meetings and disabled the ability to randomly scan for meetings to join.
Lastly, ensure that your organization’s telework policy or guide addresses requirements for physical and information security.

For those who don’t want to run the risk of having your video chat conversations compromised with Zoom, here is a list of some other alternatives that I like:

Skype: This Microsoft-owned app has been around for a while and with new features rolled out, it makes for an excellent Zoom alternative. Skype can accommodate groups of up to 50 people worldwide. The app can be used on computers and mobile devices. Typically there is a monthly charge associated with some Skype features but, due to these abnormal times, Microsoft has introduced Skype Meet Now. Skype Meet Now allows the user to easily set up a collaboration space and invite both Skype contacts and people who don’t have a Skype account. Like Zoom, you have the ability to email participants unique URL codes to log into the meeting. Don’t have the Skype app installed? Don’t worry, Microsoft makes it easy and opens a Skype web client for you. Microsoft has posted a short help/FAQ guide called, “What is Meet Now and how do I use it in Skype?” The guide contains helpful information and a short video tutorial that will show you how to use Skype Meet Now.

FaceTime: This is most likely the video chatting app of choice for Apple iOS users. This app allows users to make video and audio calls to groups of up to 32 people. All you need is the contact’s phone number. Unfortunately, FaceTime is available only on Apple products including Macbooks, iMacs, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, so it can only be used to contact others with these products.

Google Hangouts: Google has a couple of different options out there. I think the most accessible one would be their classic Google Hangouts app. Video calls can support up to 25 people. The only drawback is that you and all participants need a Google account. You can access Google Hangouts through an internet browser if you are using a laptop or desktop, but if you plan on using a mobile device, you will need to download the Google Hangouts app through the Android or iOS stores.

Facebook Messenger: Love it or hate it, Facebook boasts 2.3 billion users worldwide, making it one of the most popular social media platforms. Most people are familiar with the newsfeed-driven primary application where you submit likes and comments to feed posts. Facebook also has a Messenger application that supports group conversations for up to 8 people on any device (mobile, desktop, or portal). Facebook recently launched the Messenger COVID-19 Community Hub which talks about Messenger features and how it’s being used as a powerful tool to stay connected with the people you care about. This hub also offers security tips, business usage tips, education usage tips, parental guidance tips, etc. A Facebook account is required to access Messenger features.

This global pandemic helped people realize just how important connection and community is. Social distancing and self-quarantine isolation is difficult for all of us. Video chatting is an excellent tool that we can use to keep and build stronger connections with the people in our lives that we care about during these difficult times.

Source:
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/03/826129520/a-must-for-millions-zoom-has-a-dark-side-and-an-fbi-warning