Zoom Updates: Secure Your Sessions and More Support Resources

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The transition to online teaching and learning, and remote work in general, has highlighted new cybersecurity challenges and concerns. Among them, the need for campus communities to protect online spaces against hackers, disruptors, and others with malicious intentions.

UMass Amherst Information Technology officials note that this is not a UMass-specific problem. Virtual classrooms, meetings, and spaces worldwide are at risk of increased disruptions, such as Zoombombing. We are monitoring these issues and working to achieve a balance between safety and ease of use for Zoom as we respond to rapidly evolving opportunities and challenges. A few updates are available below. 

Changes to UMass Amherst Zoom Default Settings

To prevent potential disruptions, UMass Amherst’s default settings for Zoom meetings now include the following:

  • “Join Before Host” is disabled - No one can join the session before the host is there.
     
  • “Allow Removed Participants to Re-join” is disabled - Individuals who have been kicked out of a session cannot slip back in.
     
  • “Co-Host” is enabled - You can assign others to help moderate Zoom sessions.
     
  • “File Transfer” is disabled - Malicious files cannot be distributed.
     

“Annotation” is disabled - Participants cannot use annotation tools to add information to shared screens. You can re-enable this option if necessary. 

Steps You Can Take to Secure Your Zoom Video Conferencing Session

To secure Zoom video conferencing sessions, remember the following steps. More details and instructions

  • Use the latest version of the software. In response to recent security and privacy concerns, Zoom is releasing frequent updates and patches to its software.
  • Each online meeting or class session comes with a unique meeting ID. Do not make this ID public (post it on websites, social media, etc.).
  • Require passwords to enter your class sessions, webinars, or virtual meetings. You can either restrict access to members of the UMass Amherst community (authenticated users only) or set up a unique password for each session.
  • Disable chat and screen sharing before the meeting starts. You can re-enable screen sharing for specific participants while you are in the meeting.

Support Resources Are Available

IT updates are regularly available on the UMass Amherst Response to the Coronavirus website and the IT website.

Drop-in sessions for help connecting to Zoom and other remote work or learning technologies are scheduled every week on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, from 2 to 3 p.m.