Zoom update: New feature blocks dangerous video conferencing flaw
With the pandemic, came Zoom. Okay, technically Zoom has been around for over a decade, but its popularity has soared as people from around the globe look for a way to keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers while they stay home.
Unfortunately, the demand for Zoom has created many issues for the company and its users. Malware, comprised accounts, zero-day exploits, phishing scams, and lack of end-to-end encryption all make the list. Then there’s Zoombombing. Tap or click for our coverage on the four Zoom security settings you need to update to protect your meetings.
Thankfully, the company has been making changes on the fly to make the platform more secure. Now, there is an update that fixes a huge flaw.
How the latest Zoom update can protect you
You may be asking what is Zoombombing? Technically it’s a form of cyberattack where a troll joins your Zoom meeting. Hackers have been known to hurl profanity, threats, and racial slurs at participants and display offensive imagery.
To better secure your chats and prevent this activity, Zoom’s latest update (for all accounts) will allow account owners and admins to disable the personal meeting identifier (PMI), which is used to schedule and start meetings. It’s included in a Zoom call’s URL and can be used by anyone to join a meeting if that meeting is not fully secured.
In addition to disabling PMIs, the update will require passwords for all meetings, and by default enable the waiting room and make screen-sharing privileges Host-Only.
You may also like: 11 Zoom tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner
Here’s how you can keep trolls from taking over
All you need to do is update Zoom with its 5.0 update. Click here to download the Zoom 5.0 update. Then, select the appropriate option for your account.
Click on download and open the ZoomInstaller.exe file at the bottom of your window. From the pop-up menu, either select to join a meeting or sign in. The new security features will be in place when you start or join your next meeting.
Note: After May 30, all accounts will receive a forced upgrade.
How to disable your computer's webcam and microphone
If you’ve been using your computer for video chatting more than ever, you’re not alone. Many of us pulled off that strip of masking tape and allowed our cameras and microphones access once we shifted to working from home.
Now, more than ever, it's time to protect your home
Like millions of Americans, the coronavirus pandemic most likely has you practicing social distancing. With all the uncertainty in the world, feeling safe at home has never been more important.
That’s why we want to talk to you about home security. SimpliSafe has made it easy to get protection for your entire home, without a technician or salesperson coming to your house.
5 ways to keep your home office from becoming a fire hazard
So many of us are working from home these days that our work desks have transformed into highly personal spaces. And just like the rooms we live in, we’ve filled our desks with all manner of equipment, accessories and doodads.
Stuck at home? Make sure your vacation property is safe without having to travel
Do you own a second home? It’s pretty common to own a vacation home or rental property. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 7.5 million Americans do.
With coronavirus (COVID-19) fears and travel restrictions ramping up, you might not be able to take that trip you were planning anytime soon. These are strange times and you might be worried about your other property if you can’t travel there.
SimpliSafe protects your whole house in under an hour
You’ve probably heard how easy it is to protect your family, home and valuables these days. It’s nothing like the hassle it used to be.
Technology has changed everything — and simplified it, too. That’s because wireless technology has made installing home security an afternoon project, rather than the all-day nightmare it was when techs had to drill holes in your walls, cut wires and mount a system that worked just OK.
Security alert: Millions of cars vulnerable to key cloning
Cars probably aren’t the first things you think of when you hear the words “vulnerable devices.” But despite how they look and run, many cars actually come with multiple digital components.
From car keys to engine sensors, there’s no shortage of computerized parts in your vehicle. And where there’s any kind of digital technology, there are hackers waiting to crack them wide open. Tap or click to see how hackers broke into a car’s security system.
5 security settings to change on your smart speaker
You want all the devices in your home to be safe. For those that connect to the internet and have the ability to listen to your conversations, you need a little extra security.
We’re talking specifically about smart speakers. Tap or click here to adjust the security settings on another IoT device. Smart speakers can be incredibly useful, but also a giant liability for you and your loved ones.
Security essential: How to lock down your Mac webcam
To help protect your identity, we make it a point to share how destructive and dangerous it can be when your personal information is exposed. Alas, data breach horror stories continue to make headlines.
Websites and digital platforms aren’t the only targets for hackers. Tap or click here to learn about popular restaurant chains hit by card-stealing malware. While our data breach stories tend to revolve around well-known companies, their records are not the only data hackers seek.
Video cameras used to keep kids safe can be hacked to spy on your family
Parents have been looking for ways to keep their kids safe for generations. The thing is, worrying about what they’re up to when they leave the house isn’t enough these days. Now, there are online trolls and predators to watch for.
Ring is forcing you to make this security change after recent privacy issues
Ring video doorbells have become a popular way for people to protect packages that get delivered and left on the porch. If you have one installed, you can see who’s approaching your door or if someone is trying to steal from you.
4 settings you must change on your video doorbell
Many moons ago, we used to have peepholes. Kids, ask your parents about how they’d look through a little hole to see who was at the door to make sure it was safe to open the door.
In 2013, inventor Jamie Siminoff brought his idea for a video doorbell to TV’s “Shark Tank” hoping for a deal. All the sharks flatly rejected him, saying it was a dumb idea. But the product, Ring, became a huge hit and Amazon purchased his company in 2018 for over $1 billion.
You can stop police from asking for your Ring doorbell videos - here's how
We’ve seen a lot of news about Ring video doorbells lately. None of it good.
For example, we recently learned hackers found a way to take control of Ring devices that have microphones and built-in cameras. Not only that, but thousands of Ring passwords were leaked online. Tap or click here for all the gory details.
How to spot the worst Airbnb scams - and protect yourself next time you rent
Apps and smartphones have fundamentally changed the way we interact with the world. Instead of taking taxis, we call an Uber or Lyft. Instead of going to the grocery store, we get food delivered by Grubhub or Amazon. And when we travel, forget hotels — it’s all about Airbnb.
Ring is giving you more privacy controls - change these settings now
Updated 02/03/2020 to include new information about data sharing and Control Center limitations.
Home security has gotten a huge boost in recent years from new technology. Even your doorbell is getting smarter.
3 critical features that make a home security system great
Protect your home from intruders and other elemental hazards with help from our sponsor, SimpliSafe’s, complete home security system.
It’s easy to install, with no drilling involved — you can do it yourself in less than 15 minutes! Their service does not require contracts, and it offers 24/7 professional alarm monitoring for less than 50 cents a day.
Privacy checkup: 5 simple ways to protect yourself in just a few minutes
Cybersecurity may seem unnecessary for the average gadget owner, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s actually important for everyone, and ignoring or downplaying the importance of online security can be a path to disaster.
Fatal Kobe Bryant helicopter crash audio recorded on doorbell cam
We all had a “where were you when” moment on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020.
That’s the day news emerged of a fatal helicopter crash that took the lives of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight others who were on board. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the crash.
Anyone can snap a photo of you and see who you are, where you live
One of the dangers inherent to technology is its potential for abuse. We now possess cameras and spy tech small enough to fit almost anywhere, and like clockwork, savvy business people market them to governments and law enforcement. It’s a total expansion of surveillance around the world.
5 hidden spy cams you have to see to believe
In decades past, computers filled entire buildings. Now, you carry one around in your pocket that weighs less than the shoes on your feet.
But just like phones, one other type of tech has grown even smaller over time: cameras. You already know about the one in your smartphone, but tiny cameras are everywhere — and they’re often used in the creepiest ways. Tap or click to learn more about the threat of hidden cameras in our modern age.