How to Improve Security on Zoom: Configuration Tips to Protect You and Your Students

In the digital age, Zoom has become an essential tool for online education. However, with its popularity, concerns about security and privacy have also emerged. As teachers, it is our responsibility to ensure that our online classes are safe for both ourselves and our students. Here are some recommendations for configuring Zoom to enhance its security and protect all participants.

1. Use Passwords for Meetings

One of the simplest ways to improve security on Zoom is by using passwords for all your meetings. This prevents unauthorized people from joining your classes. To set a password:

1. Open Zoom and go to "Schedule a Meeting."
2. In the "Security" section, enable the "Require meeting password" option.
3. Enter a password that is easy for your students to remember but difficult for others to guess.

2. Enable the Waiting Room

The waiting room is a feature that allows you to control who can enter the meeting. Participants are placed in a virtual waiting room, and you decide when to admit them to the main meeting. To enable the waiting room:

1. Go to "Settings" in your Zoom account.
2. In the "Meetings" section, find the "Waiting Room" option and enable it.

3. 3. Limit Screen Sharing

To prevent students from sharing unwanted content during class, it is advisable to limit screen sharing to hosts only. You can also control when students can share their screen during the meeting. You can do this as follows:

1. During a meeting, click the arrow next to the "Share Screen" button.
2. Select "Advanced Sharing Options."
3. Under "Who can share?", select "Only Host."
4. When you want a student to share their screen, you can change this setting temporarily and then revert back once they are done.

4. Disable Join Before Host

Allowing participants to join before you can lead to unwanted behavior. It's best to disable this option to ensure no one accesses the meeting before you are present. To do this:

1. In "Settings," find the "Join Before Host" option.
2. Disable it for all scheduled meetings.

5. Use Built-in Security Features

Zoom has added several security features that you can use during meetings. For example:

• Lock Meeting: Once all your students have joined, you can lock the meeting so no one else can enter.
• Remove Participants: If someone behaves inappropriately, you can remove them from the meeting.
• Mute All Participants: You can mute all participants and allow them to speak only when you decide.

6. Check Privacy Settings

Make sure to review and adjust the privacy settings of your Zoom account:

1. Go to "Settings" in your account.
2. Review the "Privacy" options and ensure that the settings meet your needs and those of your students.

7. Keep Zoom Updated

Zoom regularly releases updates that include security improvements. It is important to keep the application updated to benefit from these improvements. Set your Zoom to update automatically or check for updates manually frequently.

Implementing these recommendations can help you create a safer learning environment on Zoom. By following these steps, you protect both your privacy and that of your students, ensuring that your online classes are a positive and secure experience for everyone.

If you have more tips or experiences on how to improve security on Zoom, share them in the comments! Together we can create a safer and more protected educational community.