Imagine the convenience of attending meetings, events or connecting with loved ones, no matter where you are, through video conferences and online calls. This form of communication has brought many benefits to society, making the world more interconnected than ever. However, in the midst of this technological marvel, security emerged as a concern to be solved.
Some of the Threats
Video conferences and virtual calls have become extremely popular, especially after advances in information technology and changes in the work landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although these technologies offer advantages, they are also subject to threats that will compromise the privacy, security and smooth functioning of virtual meetings.
See below, which are some of these threats:
Theft of private information and data: Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in videoconferencing platforms with the intention of obtaining information that is not intended for them, such as passwords, financial data, intellectual property, in addition to personal information.
Malware and Phishing: Malicious attachments or links in email messages, chats or meeting invitations can trick users into downloading malware or falling prey to phishing attacks.
Unauthorized Access: Attackers gain unauthorized access to virtual meetings, causing interruptions, eavesdropping on private meetings, or spreading inappropriate content.
Software vulnerabilities: Security flaws and vulnerabilities in the software of videoconferencing platforms are exploited by cybercriminals in carrying out attacks.
Identity theft: Cybercriminals use social engineering techniques to impersonate legitimate participants in videoconferences, gaining the trust of other participants to obtain information and execute scams.
Unauthorized Recordings: Without proper control and configuration of recording options, virtual meetings are recorded and shared without consent, resulting in privacy violations.
Risks of Screen Sharing: When people share their screens during meetings, they can hastily reveal private information, such as personal documents or passwords, if they are not careful.
How to protect yourself
This growing reliance on digital communication carries with it risks, as discussed above, for security and privacy and must be addressed. The increased use of these platforms attracts the attention of hackers, who are always on the prowl to investigate vulnerabilities and compromise confidential data..
Below are some tips to help protect you:
Choose a secure platform: Choose platforms that are proven to be safe and reliable for videoconferencing. Large providers like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and others often have strong security measures in place.
Update software: Always keep applications and operating systems up to date. Updates often fix known security vulnerabilities.
Password and unique IDs: When creating a meeting, use passwords and unique meeting IDs to prevent unauthorized access.
Monitor the meeting: Have a moderator or administrator to monitor the videoconference and resolve what is needed if there is any problem.
Sharing Control: Set the correct permissions so that only organizers can share screen, files and interact during the video conference.
Waiting Room: Use the waiting room function, if the platform supports this option. This way, you can control who joins the meeting before allowing access to all participants.
Do not share links publicly: Refrain from posting meeting links on social media or in publicly accessible places so that uninvited people cannot join.
End the meeting properly: Make sure all participants have left the meeting before ending it, especially if you are not using a waiting room.
Limit the amount of personal information: Do not disclose anything personal about yourself while in the videoconference, especially in meetings with many unknown participants.
Make participants aware: Inform all participants about the safety measures and guidelines that must be followed during the videoconference.
Safety also depends on the awareness and safe behavior of all participants. With the practices adopted, protection during your videoconferences and online calls will be improved.
The era of videoconferences and online calls has brought thousands of advantages to society in terms of efficiency, accessibility and flexibility in communication. However, the significant increase in the use of these tools also raises concerns about digital security. Video conferencing platform developers and end users have a shared responsibility for adopting secure practices.
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