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The FBI on Monday warned of a nationwide rise in so-called “Zoom-bombing,” or video hacking, as more people have turned to video-teleconferencing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent weeks, the bureau has received multiple reports of conferences – and in some cases, online classrooms – being disrupted by pornographic, hateful images or threatening language.
Meeting image with CS-700 and Zoom.
(Business Wire via AP)
Last week, a high school in Massachusetts reported that someone dialed into the classroom while a teacher was conducting an online class, the FBI said. The individual shouted profanities before leaving the teacher’s home address.
A similar incident played out another school in Massachusetts this month: an individual could be seen on a conference call displaying swastika tattoos.
Zoom did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
As a safety precaution against such incidents, the FBI has issued a set of guidelines to implement while conducting a video-teleconference.
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When using Zoom for online classrooms, teachers are advised to making meetings private and require a password or use the waiting room feature to control the admittance of additional people.
Links to a teleconference or classroom should be sent directly to individual participants and never be publicly available on a social media post.
Lastly, those managing a conference in Zoom should change the screen sharing option to “Host Only.”
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Americans have increasingly used Zoom and Skype to carry out some semblance of a normal routine while stuck at home during the coronavirus epidemic. In the past month, these platforms have been used for religious ceremonies, schools and even dates.
