We at VSE take security very seriously, and when we found out that the most popular video conference service (Zoom) is bad for your (and our) security we’ve decided to not use zoom, in fact we avoid zoom altogether, in our search we have found some amazing alternatives.
4 Reasons to Not Use Zoom?
1. Force download
You are forced to download and install a client. Even if it’s a small client that’s super easy to download and install on your computer, you are still forced to install it. This opens up ample room for hackers and pretenders to send you a fake zoom setup file with a virus embedded in it. And don’t get me started with their mobile apps (look at the poor android app reviews) with over 20 intrusive permissions that includes: your identity, your phones storage with all your personal photos on it, your contacts list and so on.
2. Zoombombing Trolls and security issues
Zoomboming is an actual term coined by TechCrunch and mentioned in the New York Times. They explain how easy it is for trolls and creeps to join your Zoom event, whether it’s a private family party or an official office meeting. This is unacceptable, and won’t look good to your event’s attendees or your sponsors. Here are the articles from both publications:
Techcrunch: Beware of ‘ZoomBombing’: screensharing filth to video calls
The New York Times: ‘Zoombombing’: When Video Conferences Go Wrong
There are evidence that Zoom has been feeding it’s users data to Facebook without users permission. And some legal concerns from the New York Attorney General as well regarding it’s data practices.
3. Easy to Hack
Over half a million Zoom accounts were hacked and the hacked accounts were given out for free on the dark web. Even though the hack was exposed in a Forbes article, Zoom continue to get hacked easily, due in part to their effort to make the platform easy to use. If this is a school that’s using Zoom for children’s education, hacking children information and putting up for sale on the dark web is unethical and dangerous. The same goes for event attendees who trusted you with their information.
Forbes: 500,000 Hacked Zoom Accounts Given Away For Free On The Dark Web
4. Freezes and slow
This is a simple math, and to be expected. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started. For some reason, everyone forgot about google hangouts, skype, gotomeeting, and many trusted and mature brands. Everyone flocked to use Zoom. And just like any service that depends on a server (or multi servers). It will eventually get congested and sluggish (remember the Twitter fail whale). This is why so many Zoom users experience freezes and/or skipping even if it was a small 2 people meeting.
The Alternative Solution to Avoid Zoom
These are our 4 Reasons to Not Use Zoom and worry not, we have the solution and it’s super simple. Before we share the solution, we should explain how Zoom (or Google hangout, or Skype) works.
When you download Zoom and install it. The software captures your video (image and voice) and send it to their servers. Then the server will act as a streaming platform (like youtube live or twitch). The other side of your zoom attendees will see your video which was downloaded from the server. This is a 2 way (or more depending on how many people are joined) mechanism.
The Solution: WebRTC
WebRTC is a mature project started in 2011 check out the WIkipedia page. And it’s very simple. It is a web based RTC (Real Time Communication) Therefore, it is server-less and peer-to-peer powered with an end-to-end encryption enabled by default.
1- By being web based. As a result, it immediately eliminates the need to download a software to install or a plugin to add to your browser.
2- Can’t be trolled because it generates a token only available to the invited participants.
3- Can’t be hacked since it’s end-to-end encrypted (often with PGP encryption).
4- Most likely will not freeze. Due to the fact that it depends on your own computer (or smart phone) power combined with your internet speed (for each participant). And it’s a fraction of the bandwidth used with zoom or skype thanks to it’s brilliant encoding without loosing any voice or video quality.
Final Thoughts
We’re not against using Zoom for events or meetings. We just ask our clients to do so at their own risk if they are OK using these services. However, we’ve implemented a powerful, WebRTC based solution to be used within our virtual event platform. With a ton of options not available within Zoom. And for the pre-recorded sessions we use our HLS secure fast video CDN platform. As for our internal company meetings we use jitsi meet (part of the privacy conscious Disroot organization). And we simply love it.