Zoom Security @ Tufts: Keeping Your Online Meetings Secure
In response to recent Zoombombing incidents, Tufts Technology Services (TTS) is making security changes to ensure it is more difficult to disrupt Zoom meetings and events.
Please note the following Zoom changes Tufts will be making on Sunday, February 28:
- Screen Sharing will be disabled for everyone except the meeting host - When meetings begin, only the hosts and co-hosts will be able to share and enable other participants to share. Hosts and co-hosts can enable sharing at any point during a meeting simply by clicking the security shield icon in the control bar at the base of your Zoom window.
- Important note for Faculty: Instructors should be sure they are logged in as the host for their classes by doing one of the following:
- For meetings scheduled in Canvas Zoom, use the 'Start Meeting' button in Canvas
- For other meetings, log into tufts.zoom.us, and use the 'Start Meeting' button
- Log into Zoom directly on your device
- Important note for Faculty: Instructors should be sure they are logged in as the host for their classes by doing one of the following:
- Annotation will be disabled by default ("Only the user who is sharing can annotate") - When meetings begin, only those who are screen sharing will be able to annotate. The person sharing content can enable or disable annotation for others in meeting by clicking the "... More" button in their floating toolbar and selecting "Enable Annotation for Others" or "Disable Annotation for Others".
- The meeting control bar that includes the security shield icon will be set to always show at the bottom of your main Zoom window. Hosts and co-hosts will have easy access to controls for sharing and other capabilities that are often used by hackers to disrupt meetings.
[NOTE: These changes will be made to Tufts default settings on 2/28 and apply to all/any Zoom meetings currently scheduled and any scheduled in the future. Hosts can go into their personal default settings on tufts.zoom.us and change the sharing settings to suit their needs for any given meeting.]
TTS encourages the community to review your Zoom meeting settings at https://tufts.zoom.us to ensure you are following best practices in safeguarding your Zoom meetings and webinars from uninvited attendees. Here are some things you can do to prepare for the change and ensure that you are familiar with Zoom security options:
- Review the Zoom Security @ Tufts tip sheet for guidance on security and privacy controls.
- Be sure your Zoom desktop app is up to date (see Zoom Security @ Tufts Tip sheet for instructions).
- Familiarize yourself with the settings accessible by hosts through the security shield icon on the bottom of your Zoom meeting window.
- Attend the NEW Securing Your Zoom Meetings Webinar. Registration is through the Tufts Learn Center using your Tufts credentials https://bit.ly/3rZmimU
- Write to edtech@tufts.edu and request a Zoom security consult, if you are hosting a public Zoom meeting (e.g., one that is publicized on unrestricted web pages or that involves a topic you feel may make it a target).
If you have general questions about using Zoom, please contact the 24/7 TTS Service Desk at 617.627.3376 or it@tufts.edu. For issues specific to security features, contact the Educational Technology Team at edtech@tufts.edu.