Zoom videoconferencing app sees a rise in users

Zoom, a free conference calling app, that has reportedly seen a rise in users during the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to media reports, given a recent unforeseen surge in both volume and sensitivity of data passing through its network, the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James has sent a letter to the start-up asking it to provide details of the steps taken to protect users’ privacy and security.

Users have flocked to Zoom as governments around the world ordered large parts of their populations to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. It is now ranked as the number two and number one app in the UK and US, respectively.

Zoom has had security flaws in the past, including a vulnerability which allowed an attacker to remove attendees from meetings, spoof messages from users and hijack shared screens. Another saw Mac users forced into calls without their knowledge.

Zoom has also been criticised for its “attendee tracking” feature, which, when enabled, lets the host of the Zoom call check if participants are clicking away from the main Zoom window during a call.

Via EPA-EFE/MATTIA SEDDA