{"id":40669,"date":"2020-04-01T10:03:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T10:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/icloud.pe\/blog\/?guid=bce94f817b1e2a6c0250833949bd9b55"},"modified":"2020-04-01T10:03:23","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T10:03:23","slug":"zoom-admits-meetings-dont-use-end-to-end-encryption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icloud.pe\/blog\/zoom-admits-meetings-dont-use-end-to-end-encryption\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoom admits meetings don’t use end-to-end encryption"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n Bobby Hellard<\/a><\/span>
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1 Apr, 2020<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Video conferencing app Zoom does not use end-to-end encryption, according to reports, despite specifically stating that\u00a0it does on its website.<\/p>\n

Though Zoom\u00a0offers users the option to \u201cenable an end-to-end (E2E) encrypted meeting,\u201d and provides a green padlock that claims \u201cZoom is using an end to end encrypted connection,\u201d the company this week admitted that\u00a0offers no such thing.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the company told The Intercept<\/em><\/a> that, despite its claims, it was “currently not possible” to enable end-to-end encryption for its video meetings.<\/p>\n

Instead, the spokesperson revealed,\u00a0the service uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) which encrypts data between user’s meetings and Zoom’s servers. End-to-end refers to data encrypted<\/a> between calls, blocking out third parties – which includes the service provider. As a result, the company can see and use the data for things like targeted ads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“When we use the phrase \u2018End to End\u2019 in our other literature, it is in reference to the connection being encrypted from Zoom end point to Zoom end point,\u201d\u00a0the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n

Like a number of video conferencing services, Zoom<\/a> is currently benefiting from the coronavirus lockdow<\/a>n. Its usage in the US is reportedly<\/a> three times as much as Microsoft Teams, which is fairly impressive for an app that was almost unheard of this time last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Given the rapid rise of Zoom, Microsoft recently singled out the\u00a0service in a partner video, suggesting that it’s a threat to its business model<\/a> as\u00a0it can be used in tandem with rivals like Slack<\/a> and Google’s G Suite, unlike Teams.<\/p>\n

Part of Zoom’s appeal to organisations is its simplicity and the fact it can be used for free, albeit without any premium features, which lets businesses try it out before forking out any money.
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\n“Video conferencing is a fantastic necessity in times like these but it is vitally important to understand the security and privacy concerns that go in parallel with this increasingly popular form of communication,” said Jake Moore, a cyber security specialist for ESET.
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\n“For social and light business meetings they are fine as long as users realise what data is being shared by Zoom to third parties. I certainly wouldn’t recommend using free software for sensitive or private meetings.”<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Boris Johnson tweeted a picture of his cabinet’s “first digital meeting” and, comically,\u00a0left the ID number visible. This security blunder will not have gone down well with the Ministery of Defence, which has reportedly banned Zoom due to security concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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This morning I chaired the first ever digital Cabinet. <\/p>\n

Our message to the public is: stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives. #StayHomeSaveLives<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pgeRc3FHIp<\/a><\/p>\n

— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 31, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n