Safer Internet: Talk and Chat Privately

Summary

"I sold my users' privacy...
[1] Check preferences -- do not assume default settings are the most secure
[1] Read the privacy policies of (and articles about) services you use:
what they log, share or encrypt, especially 'free' services
(and especially Google and Facebook)
Text messaging, audio, video apps can be more secure than email.
Messages and Facetime (for Apple users) are generally very private and quite secure.
Zoom (like other meeting services) can be very private and secure, even the free version --
if problems are quickly fixed -- and users install updates
if privacy & security preferences are provided and explained -- and checked! e.g.,
user: strong unique account password; enable 2FA if avail; minimize user profile info;
click only on expected meeting links; etc.
host: keep meeting ID private; set meeting room password; use waiting rooms to admit participants; route calls outside China; etc.
Zoom (or any communication) app may be more secure/private on iOS compared to Mac or Windows.
Zoom's free version doesn't have ads or market your info (like some other products)
-- it's offered as 'trialware', with the hope that you'll upgrade to bypass limits (e.g., session length) and access other features.
In its early years, Zoom was slow to acknowledge & address problems; it has made substantial progress in recent months.
Refs:Zoom (articles -- below); Strong Passwords: Zoom 'credential stuffing' explanation
[1] Create a 2nd entry in Contacts with minimal info about you: name, phone, email;
share that with others who shouldn't have all your info!
[1] Enable sending unknown phone callers (not in your contacts) directly to voicemail, e.g.,
iOS: Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers
[2] Install software to block robocalls
[2] Use less common apps to improve privacy (and to avoid government monitoring?)
[2] Consider using video (ideally) or audio instead of any text -- more difficult to capture and analyze
[3] Secure phones

References

{TCYOP-4: 132-136; TCYOP-3: 109-114; Understand the Privacy Risks of Real-time Communication: iMessage, Bleep by BitTorrent, Cryptocat, Peerio, Signal, WhatsApp, Wire; Security in iMessage and Other Apple Services; [3] Using Keybase for Identity Verification and Chat; Improve Your Real-time Communication Privacy: Read the privacy policies, Use end-to-end encryption when available, Use weaker encryption if necessary, use obscure products, Favor higher-bandwidth communication (over text)}
sections: Refs: Clubhouse; Facetime; Google: Meet, etc.; iOS, Messages; Messenger; macOS; Robocalls; Signal; Skype, Teams; Slack; Telegram; Webex; WhatsApp; Yik Yak; Zoom
topics:
Wikipedia: Voice Over IP (VOIP); Vonage
HowStuffWorks: How VoIP Works; Skype vs. Vonage
Wikipedia: Secure telephone; Secure phone
HowStuffWorks: Will the landline phone become obsolete?
Wikipedia: Instant Messaging
Wikipedia: Mattermost an open-source, self-hostable online chat service with file sharing, search, and integrations. It is designed as an internal chat for organisations and companies, and mostly markets itself as an open-source alternative to Slack and Microsoft Teams
HowStuffWorks: How Instant Messaging Works; How Instant Messaging Security Works
Ethical.net: Messaging
Block SMS Text Spam with Nomorobo TB; 6/17/2024
A history of online public messaging
from BBS to Facebook, here's how messaging platforms
have changed over the years; Ars; 4/29/2024
One of the Last Bastions of Digital Privacy Is Under Threat encrypted messaging; NYT; 6/13/2023
How Mobile Phones Became a Privacy Battleground -- and How to Protect Yourself NYT; 9/29/2022
Firefox's new service gives you a burner phone number to cut down on spam Relay subscription; Verge; 10/13/2022
Never Open a PDF from a Strange Text LH; 7/7/2022
Best encrypted messaging apps for use across Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows MR; 6/29/2022
Did You Receive a Text Message From Yourself? You're Not Alone. NYT; 4/6/2022
Americans Can't Quit SMS
the world loves WhatsApp and other texting apps.
Americans are chatting in their own bubble; NYT; 2/2/2022
How to Stop Scam Texts 'smishing'; NYT; 12/1/2021
FBI document shows what data can be obtained from encrypted messaging apps 11/30/2021
Remember, Communication Services Cannot Guarantee Privacy
WhatsApp, ProtonMail; TB; 9/10/2021
FBI sold phones to organized crime and read 27 million 'encrypted' messages Ars; 6/8/2021
Best Zoom alternatives CNet; 5/21/2022
The best free apps for video calling
Zoom; Skype; Webex; Verge; Google Meet;
Microsoft Teams; Google Duo; Starleaf;
Jitsi Meet; Whereby; Glip Pro; 5/4/2021
How to Stop Spam Calls
FTC's National Do Not Call Registry;
spam blocking carrier apps (not 3rd parties);
block calls not in Contacts;
landline: Anonymous Call Rejection;
more tips; NYT; 4/15/2021
Getting started with Signal and other encrypted messaging apps PC; 3/11/2021
Donald Trump is one of 15,000 Gab users whose account just got hacked GabLeaks includes 70,000 messages in more than 19,000 chats by over 15,000 users; Ars; 3/1/2021
QAnon Now Getting Banned On Platforms We've Never Even Heard Of e.g., Clapper, Gab; Giz; 2/11/2021
Are Private Messaging Apps the Next Misinformation Hot Spot? NYT; 2/3/2021
How to Keep Internet Trolls Out of Remote Workplaces employee bad behavior; NYT; 1/24/2021
I looked at all the ways Microsoft Teams tracks users and my head is spinning ZD; 1/17/2021
Millions Flock to Telegram and Signal as Fears Grow Over Big Tech and privacy concerns; NYT; 1/13/2021
What's a Simple Way to Video Chat with My Elderly Parents? LH; 1/8/2021
6 Privacy-Focused Alternatives to the Apps You Use Every Day Signal for Messaging; Firefox for Web Browsing; DuckDuckGo for Search; OsmAnd for Maps; ProtonMail for Email; Jumbo for Social Media; Wired; 12/13/2020
Wormable code-execution flaw in Jabber has a severity rating of 9.9 out of 10 Ars; 12/11/2020
The Best Alternatives to Zoom for Remote Meetings
free: Google Meet, Discord, Facebook Messenger Rooms, FaceTime, Skype;
paid: Zoho Meetings, Zencastr; LH; 10/23/2020
Digital Hygiene in the Zoom Era
How can I make sure private things don’t become public?
I had a minor disaster. How do I handle the situation gracefully?
What if it is not you who is being embarrassing, but your colleague?
When should I mute myself?
Can I just skip being on camera?
How do employers monitor what we do on our computers and how much do they know?
How do I know if I’m being monitored?
What if I’m on my lunch break?
I opened an inappropriate website on my work computer. What do I do?
While we’re here, someone please explain “incognito mode.”
What should I definitely not do on my work devices?
NYT; 10/23/2020
Encrypted messaging can be intercepted an alleged plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan puts the spotlight on secure messaging apps; CNet; 10/8/2020
Trump's WeChat and TikTok App Store Bans Are a Cybersecurity Nightmare no more security updates; Giz; 9/18/2020
Iranian Hackers Can Now Beat Encrypted Apps, Researchers Say the hackers use a variety of infiltration techniques, including phishing, but the most widespread method is sending what appear to be tempting documents and applications to carefully selected targets; NYT; 9/18/2020
How to Have a Productive Disagreement During a Zoom Meeting LH; 9/7/2020
How Secure Are Your Texts, Really? podcast; Wired; 8/21/2020
What remote learning will look like this fall in Meet, Teams, and Zoom PC; 8/11/2020
How Remote Work Will Create Economic Winners and Losers NYT; 7/26/2020
What comes after Zoom fatigue: the history and future of video chat Vox; 7/17/2020
What comes after Zoom? 6/22/2020
Become a Videoconferencing Pro with These Tips TB; 6/3/2020
Since Zoom Won't Ensure Your Privacy, Try These Alternatives LH; 6/3/2020
Why Does Zoom Exhaust You? Science Has an Answer on video calls, looming heads, staring eyes, a silent audience, and that millisecond delay disrupt normal human communication; WSJ; 5/27/2020
How to use Zoom or FaceTime with an Apple TV (or any TV) MW; 5/26/2020
This Video Chat Prediction From 1918 Was So Much Cooler Than Zoom Television and Telephot; Gernsback; Electrical Experimenter; Giz; 5/19/2020
Mattermost reviewed TR; 5/8/2020
How to Mirror Your Apple TV to Your Mac for Screenshots or Presentations TB; 5/7/2020
5 Ways to Stay in Touch With Less Tech-Savvy Family and Friends
smart devices: Amazon's Echo Show, Facebook Portal, Google Nest Hub Max;
browser: Jitsi Meet;
Write a letter; NYT; 5/6/2020
An analysis of privacy policies of Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco Webex finds that the services may be collecting more data than many consumers realize CR; 4/30/2020
Companies are turning to intrusive monitoring of work-from-home employees with always-on webcam rules, virtual 'water coolers', daily check-ins, and not-so-optional company happy hours; WaPo; 4/30/2020
Here's the NSA's guide for choosing a safe text chat and video conferencing service
assessed tools include Slack, Zoom, Signal, Skype, more: .pdf;
Does the service implement end-to-end (E2E) encryption?
Does the E2E encryption use strong, well-known, testable encryption standards?
Is multi-factor authentication (MFA) available?
Can users see and control who connects to collaboration sessions?
Does the tool's vendor share data with third parties or affiliates?
Do users have the ability to securely delete data from the service and its repositories as needed (both on client and server side)?
Is the tool's source code public (e.g. open source)?
Is the service FedRAMP approved for official US government use? ZD; 4/30/2020
Is Your Video Chat App Secure? discusses Mozilla's reviews:
product ratings -- minimum security standards:
Encryption: Does the app/service offer it?
Security updates: How regularly is the app/service updated?
Strong passwords: How strong are the app’s password guidelines?
Manages vulnerabilities: Is there a way for people to report bugs and other security issues with the app?
Privacy policy: Does it exist?; LH; 4/29/2020
Notes From a Videochat Memorial Atl; 4/23/2020
The Simplest Video Chat Apps for People Who Struggle With Tech LH; 4/9/2020
10 Zoom alternatives for more secure, cross-platform video calls 9to5; 4/1/2020
What Is the Most Secure Video Conferencing Software? MB; 3/31/2020
How to Set Digital Boundaries With Friends and Family LH; 1/27/2020
Major TikTok Security Flaws Found (and Fixed) could have let attackers manipulate content and extract personal data; NYT; 1/8/2020
It Seemed Like a Popular Chat App. It’s Secretly a Spy Tool. ToTok, a messaging app from the United Arab Emirates that has been downloaded to millions of phones, is the latest escalation of a digital arms race; NYT; 12/22/2019
Is It Bad That I Gchat My Friends While I’m at Work? NYT; 12/12/2019
SMS Replacement is Exposing Users to Text, Call Interception Thanks to Sloppy Telecos RCS standard; MB; 11/28/2019
What Is End-to-End Encryption? Another Bull’s-Eye on Big Tech; NYT; 11/19/2019
The FCC created an online index for known phone scams FCC index; PopSci; 8/20/2019
EFF Posts New White Paper On Stingray Device Capabilities cell-site simulators (CSS); "Gotta Catch 'Em All: Understanding How IMSI Catchers Exploit Cell Networks (Probably)"; TD; 7/15/2019
The Best iOS Walkie Talkie Apps to Use Instead of Apple's Voxer, Two Way, Walkie-Talkie -Communications, Zello, FireChat; LH; 7/11/2019
How To Prevent and Respond to a SIM Swap Scam LH; 6/19/2019
Every secure messaging app needs a self-destruct button TC; 6/12/2019
How to Make Your Phone Limit Your Screen Time for You iOS, Android; NYT; 4/1/2019
Why Do We Need So Many Different Messaging Apps? no interoperability or standards between proprietary, 'walled gardens'; SMS, RCS? MB; 3/19/2019
Comcast set mobile pins to '0000', helping attackers steal phone numbers Xfinity Mobile deploys fix after weak PIN system fueled number-porting attacks; Ars; 3/1/2019
The Route of a Text Message, a Love Story the surprisingly complex journey a text message takes every time we hit 'send'; MB; 2/22/2019
Private Messages Are the New (Old) Social Network Wired; 1/27/2019
El Chapo Trial: How a Colombian I.T. Guy Helped U.S. Authorities Take Down the Kingpin "In a daring move that placed his life in danger, the I.T. consultant eventually gave the F.B.I. his system's secret encryption keys in 2011 after he had moved the network's servers from Canada to the Netherlands during what he told the cartel's leaders was a routine upgrade"; NYT; 1/8/2019

Android; Allo

Google: Meet, etc.

How Google Meet Weathered the Work-From-Home Explosion Wired; 8/11/2020
Google Meet is now free for everyone, as the pursuit of Zoom continues Google Meet was restricted to paying G Suite users, but not anymore; still requires Google account, such as a Gmail email address; PC; 6/17/2020
Android; Google Meet passes 50 million downloads, boosted by coronavirus 5/17/2020
Google's Zoom rival, called Meet, is now free to consumers increase to 60 minutes (until 9/30); requires Google account; previously paid G Suite customers could host; CNet; 4/29/2020

iOS; Messages; Facetime

Apple announced RCS with a whimper when it should have been a bang Verge; 6/15/2024
How to get back deleted text messages on your iPhone MW; 3/25/2024
New iMessage PQ3 Encryption Protocol Protects Against Post-Quantum Attacks TB; 2/23/2024
iOS 17.2: Turn On Contact Key Verification With These Easy Steps CNet; 12/22/2023
Apple announces RCS support for iMessage instead of SMS/MMS; Ars; 11/16/2023
The Easiest Ways to Sync iMessages Across All Your Devices LH; 1/19/2023
You Can Export Your Entire iMessage History LH; 1/19/2023
How to Use Apple Notes to Have Secret Chats With Others
not as safe as an encrypted messaging app, but it can work in a pinch; LH; 6/27/2022
How to Use Email Instead of Phone Number for iMessage on iPhone & iPad OSXD; 7/25/2021
How to share your Mac's screen the quick and easy way in Messages MW; 1/20/2021
How to Get SMS Text Messages Across All Your Apple Devices LH; 9/24/2020
How to Secretly Open iMessages Without Triggering Read Receipts LH; 7/30/2020
Troubleshooting FaceTime on iPhone and iPad OSXD; 7/20/2020
How to Share iPhone & iPad Screen with AnyDesk OSXD; 6/8/2020
Do you use Wi-Fi Calling? Here's how to check if it's active on your iPhone Wi-Fi Calling is a helpful feature in improving call quality, but seems to turn itself off; MW; 5/11/2020
PSA: New Character Bug in Messages Causing iOS Devices to Crash also Mail; update imminent; MR; 4/23/2020
How to Block Unwanted Emails, Phone Calls, and Messages in iOS 13 LH; 9/25/2019
What Actually Happens When You Block Someone on Your iPhone LH; 9/17/2019
Google Hackers Found 10 Ways to Hack an iPhone Without Touching It MB; 8/12/2019
How to Make & Receive Phone Calls with iPad via your iPhone; OSXD; 2/28/2019

macOS

How to set up your Mac and iPhone for texts and calls same AppleID; Verge; 6/24/2020

Phone

10 Free Reverse Phone Number Lookup Sites MW; 11/30/2023
What Is Wifi Calling and How to Enable It on Your Phone LH; 11/25/2023
The Best Cell Phone Plans NYT; 7/25/2023
The Best Cheap Phone Plans Wired; 2/5/2023
Always Do This Before Letting Someone Borrow Your Phone
Android: Guest Mode; Screen Pinning;
iOS: Accessibility: Guided Access; LH; 6/1/2022
Best Cheap Phone Plans: Affordable Alternatives to Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T CNet; 5/31/2022
Steps to Simple Online Security: 7: Secure Your Smartphone;
Send messages and files safely NYT; 4/22/2022
How to Stop Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile From Collecting Your Phone Data to Sell Ads LH; 12/8/2021
Criminal hackers are now going after phone lines, too
VoIP; NPR; 12/6/2021
How to Stop Butt Dialing Everyone with Your Smartphone Wired; 8/20/2020
How to Buy a Burner Phone LH; 6/4/2020
What Actually Happens When You Block Someone on Your iPhone LH; 5/6/2020
How to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Webcam Using a phone (old or new) as a camera for your Zoom meetings is an easy and affordable way to be visibly present if you don't have a webcam; Wired; 5/4/2020
How to Make Phone Calls From Your Computer LH; 4/3/2020
How to Use 'Do Not Disturb' on Your Phone (While Still Letting Important Calls Through) iOS, Android; NYT; 1/24/2019

Robocalls

How to Block Spam Calls
to forward spams to your carrier:
1. tap and hold down on the message;
2a. iPhone: tap 'More', then press the forward button (arrow on the bottom-right corner of the screen)
2b. Android: When a menu pops up, select "Forward Message"
3. Enter 7726 in the recipient field and hit send;
NYT; 5/26/2022
How to Block Spam Calls and Text Messages Wired; 3/12/2022
How Do You Stop Robocalls? NYT; 7/12/2021
Caller ID Authentication May Tame the Scourge of Spam Calls TB; 3/18/2021
Robocall blocking apps caught sending your private data without permission e.g., Hiya, TrapCall, TrueCaller; TC; 8/9/2019
Stop Robocalls on Your iPhone, Once and for All LH; 5/6/2019
Robocalls Are Getting Worse. How Do We Stop Them? Verge; 5/3/2019
Phone Companies Are Testing Tech to Catch Spam Calls. Let's Hope It Works. a new standard, called Stir/Shaken, could come to your mobile provider by the end of the year. But there are already ways around it; NYT; 4/26/2019
What you can do right now to stop robocalls Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint, Google, Comcast; CNN; 3/29/2019

Signal

Signal's rapid growth following WhatsApp privacy changes has raised concerns from Signal staff who worry the service's new features will be misused Verge; 1/25/2021
Signal Provides Secure Cross-Platform Replacement for WhatsApp TB; 1/18/2021
Signal has better privacy policies than WhatsApp or Telegram -- here's why TNW; 1/11/2021
Hacker Lexicon: What Is the Signal Encryption Protocol? becoming de facto standard for end-to-end encryption; Wired; 11/29/2020
How to Use Signal Encrypted Messaging Wired; 8/18/2020
Signal's New PIN Feature Worries Cybersecurity Experts your contacts stored in the cloud; Verge; 7/10/2020
Signal Downloads Are Way Up Since the Protests Began organizers and demonstrators say they feel safer communicating with end-to-end encryption; NYT; 6/11/2020
How to Add PIN Security to Your Signal Account LH; 5/21/2020
Signal to move away from using phone numbers as user IDs ZD; 5/20/2020
Signal Is Finally Bringing Its Secure Messaging to the Masses Wired; 2/14/2020

Skype, Teams

Wikipedia: Skype
HowStuffWorks: How to Use Skype
How to use Microsoft Teams with your friends and family Verge; 8/7/2020
How to Group Video Chat with Skype on iPhone & iPad OSXD; 4/18/2020
Skype Meet Now is Microsoft's effort to make Skype calls as easy as possible PC; 4/3/2020
Skype tries competing with Zoom by reminding people that they don’t need the app or an account to make a call Verge; 4/3/2020
Skype 8.41 merge an incoming call with the current call; resize your video preview; TB; 3/13/2019
Microsoft introduces background blur feature to Skype, which uses AI to detect the user's hair, hands, and arms, and blur distracting objects in the background Giz; 2/7/2019

Slack

All the Ways Slack Tracks You -- and How to Stop It e.g., changing privacy settings, putting limits on those infuriating notifications; Wired; 10/29/2020
What if All Your Slack Chats Were Leaked? Slack stores everything you do on its platform by default -- your username and password, every message you've sent, every lunch you've planned and every confidential decision you've made. That data is not end-to-end encrypted -- accessible by Slack, law enforcement, hackers; NYT; 7/1/2019

8 Telegram Privacy Settings You Should Enable Immediately LH; 5/17/2022
Fleeing WhatsApp for Better Privacy? Don't Turn to Telegram it doesn't encrypt conversations by default—or at all for group chats; Wired; 1/27/2021
Telegram, Pro-Democracy Tool, Struggles Over New Fans From Far Right NYT; 1/26/2021
How Telegram evaded its Russian ban ban lifted earlier this month; Verge; 6/29/2020
Telegram adds the option to delete chats on other people's devices Verge; 3/25/2019

Webex

How to Use Webex Meetings for Videoconferencing on iPhone & iPad Virtual Backgrounds; OSXD; 5/5/2020

WhatsApp "end-to-end encrypted" messages aren't that private after all
millions of WhatsApp messages are reviewed by both AI and human moderators; Ars; 9/8/2021
The 5 best WhatsApp alternatives
Signal, Wire, Telegram, Viber, Keybase; PC; 5/19/2021
The Truth About Your WhatsApp Data NYT; 1/13/2021
WhatsApp Has Shared Your Data With Facebook for Years, Actually since 2016; Wired; 1/8/2021
Use 2FA to Stop This New WhatsApp Account Attack LH; 11/28/2020
For Better Privacy, Use These Apps Instead of WhatsApp’s New Disappearing Messages Signal, Telegram, Viber; LH; 11/2/2020
How to Boost WhatsApp's Privacy and Better Protect Your Data Wired; 9/7/2020
WhatsApp: Israeli firm 'deeply involved' in hacking our users e.g., humans rights activitsts; Guard; 4/29/2020
How to Get Up to 8 People on a WhatsApp Video Call LH; 4/22/2020
WhatsApp says flaw let attackers install NSO Group surveillance software on iPhones and Android phones since May via the app's call function; flaw now patched 5/13/2019
The Best WhatsApp Alternatives Signal, Viber, Telegram, GroupMe; LH; 1/25/2019

Yik Yak

Zoom

Download Zoom (app): Mac, Windows; iOS: Apple App Store; Android: Google Play Store;
note: it's possible to run a browser version of Zoom (without an installed plugin);
however, see browser & feature limitations
Zoom: Getting Started: Mac, Windows; iOS; Android;
note: for viewing presentation materials/demos, a tablet or desktop screen is preferable to a phone
Zoom: Privacy and Security
Zoom: Best Practices for Securing Your Zoom Meetings .pdf
Zoom Workplace 6.0.1 TB; 4/22/2024
Zoom Videoconferencing App Now Available for the Apple TV TB; 12/6/2023
Zoom is adding new options for sharing your pronouns Verge; 6/22/2021
Researchers identify causes for Zoom fatigue intense close-up eye contact, constantly seeing own reflection, reduced mobility, and increased cognitive load; It’s not just Zoom. Popular video chat platforms have design flaws that exhaust the human mind and body. But there are easy ways to mitigate their effects; Stan; 2/23/2021
How to Give Presentations and Demo Apps in Zoom TB; 2/5/2021
Why Insider 'Zoom Bombs' Are So Hard to Stop most calls to disrupt videoconferences originate with the participants, especially in high schools and colleges; Wired; 2/3/2021
New Zoom features are prepping for a hybrid world when you go back to the office Zoom Rooms is adding the ability to count the number of people in conference rooms to maintain social distancing, and measure air quality; CNet; 2/3/2021
A brief look at the evolution of video chat during 2020
as Zoom, Microsoft, and others added features to make the medium more interactive and easier to use; WSJ; 12/31/2020
How Zoom made video meetings easy for workers, students and all of us in 2020
Zoom's chief product officer explained the company'' massive growth during the pandemic and where it's going next; CNet; 12/30/2020
Avoid This Fake Zoom Meeting Invite Phishing Scam LH; 12/2/2020
How to Stop a Zoombombing Suspend Participant Activities; warning if meeting invite appears in any public social media posts or other websites; LH; 11/18/2020
Zoom unveils At-Risk Meeting Notifier, a feature that scans the net for posted Zoom meeting links and alerts meeting organizers to potential Zoombombing attacks ZD; 11/16/2020
Zoom's end-to-end encryption (E2EE) has arrived Mac, PC, iOS, Android; when it's enabled several features like cloud recording, telephone dial-in, and 1:1 private chat will not work; how to enable; first of 4 E2EE phases; Verge; 10/27/2020
Zoom to start first phase of E2E encryption rollout next week TC; 10/14/2020
Zoom’s mobile and desktop apps now support two-factor authentication previously only available via the web; Verge; 9/11/2020
Zoom Reports Partial Outage as Many Schools Return to Remote Learning Zoom said it had 'identified the issue' and was working to resolve the problem for users unable to start or join meetings; NYT; 8/24/2020
How to change your name and add a photo to Zoom Verge; 8/14/2020
11 Handy Zoom Hacks to Make Your Digital Life Easier LH; 7/20/2020
Amid pressure, Zoom will end-to-end encrypt all calls, free or paid non-paying users will have to verify themselves with a phone number in a one-time process (to stop bad actors from creating multiple abusive accounts); if encryption's turned on, participants with traditional PSTN phone lines can’t join in; TNW; 6/17/2020
Zoom defenders cite legit reasons to not end-to-end encrypt free calls Ars; 6/4/2020
How to Look Better on Zoom with 'Touch Up My Appearance' OSXD; 5/28/2020
How to Use Zoom Virtual Backgrounds on iPhone & iPad OSXD; 5/6/2020
No, the Best Doesn't Win 'It just works' are some of the most powerful words in technology; NYT; 4/27/2020
Zoom: It's Here! 5 Things to Know About Zoom 5.0
1. AES 256-bit GCM encryption; 2. 'Report a User' (misuse) feature; 3. New encryption icon;
4. Enhanced data center information; 5. Enhancements to ending/leaving meetings; Additional security enhancements; 4/27/2020
Zoom's Biggest Rivals Are Coming for It Facebook: video group chats for as many as 50 people on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp video calls for up to eight people and video calls in Facebook Dating; Google: Meet video chat app accessible through Gmail; Cisco: Webex teleconferencing service; Verizon: acquiring BlueJeans Network, a videoconferencing service; Epic Games: Houseparty, a video chat app; NYT; 4/24/2020
Zoom Daily Users Surge to 300 Million Despite Privacy Woes BB; 4/22/2020
Zoom rolls out its 5.0 update focused exclusively on security and privacy features including easier call management and upgrading encryption; 4/22/2020
Zoom fatigue is now setting in s it moves from being a social lifeline to a chore, used for all interactions while aggravating anxieties in an exhausting time; 4/22/2020
Zoom's Security Woes Were No Secret to Business Partners Dropbox privately paid top hackers to find bugs in software by the videoconferencing company Zoom, then pressed it to fix them; NYT; 4/20/2020
How to Share Screen with Zoom on iPhone & iPad OSXD; 4/16/2020
Zoom Repairs Flaws and Improves Privacy TB; 4/15/2020
Hackers Are Selling a Critical Zoom Zero-Day Exploit for $500,000 1 Mac; 1 Windows: exploit requires the hacker to be in a call with the target; MB; 4/15/2020
Getting Dumped During A Pandemic "Zumping": the internet connection wasn't great, so we kept freezing. "We're breaking up," I said — and we were! 4/13/2020
Zoom will let paying customers pick which data center their calls are routed from Free users can’t change their region, but data won’t be routed through China; Verge; 4/13/2020
Zoom: Every security issue uncovered in the video chat app CNet; 4/13/2020
Zoom removes meeting IDs from client title bar to boost security BC; 4/8/2020
The Lesson We Are Learning From Zoom use with meeting passwords, avoid for sensitive issues? NYT; 4/8/2020
How to Prevent 'Zoombombing' in a Few Easy Steps NYT; 4/9/2020
Zoom Rushes to Improve Privacy for Consumers Flooding Its Service NYT; 4/8/2020
'Zoombombing' Becomes a Dangerous Organized Effort target for harassment and abuse coordinated in private off-platform chats; NYT; 4/3/2020
Every Zoom Security and Privacy Flaw So Far, and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself TB; 4/3/2020
Zoom Has Security Flaws. It's Still Fine to Use MB; 4/3/2020
Security tips every teacher and professor needs to know about Zoom, right now
Make sure meetings are password protected;
When possible, don't announce meetings on social media or other public outlets;
Carefully inspect the list of participants periodically;
Carefully control screen sharing;
Disable the Join Before Host setting;
Use the Waiting Room option to admit participants;
Lock a meeting;
Be aware of everything that's within view of your camera; Ars; 4/2/2020
New York Attorney General Looks Into Zoom’s Privacy Practices NYT; 3/30/2020
Now that everyone's using Zoom, here are some privacy risks you need to watch out for Tattle-tale (attention-tracking) feature; Cloud snitching; Data gossip; CNet; 3/28/2020
A look at the rise of 'Zoombombing', where trolls disrupt public Zoom conferencing calls by using the service's screen-sharing feature to share graphic content NYT; 3/20/2020

Printer-friendly version

Safer Internet: Talk and Chat Privately

Summary

References

Android; Allo

Clubhouse

Facebook Messenger

Facetime

Google: Meet, etc.

iOS; Messages; Facetime

macOS

Phone

Robocalls

Signal

Skype, Teams

Slack

Telegram

Webex

WhatsApp

Yik Yak

Zoom