Super Spy: How to stay secure with video calling software

If you’re vaguely interested in technology, have tried to arrange a ‘houseparty’ or have suddenly started using video conferencing like never before you will have no doubt seen a few headlines calling into question the security of said conferencing software.

Houseparty, Zoom and Facetime have all had headlines warning people of security breaches over the last 12 months and if you don’t know what you’re reading it can seem pretty scary! Am I really being spied on? Can they listen even when I’m not using their app?

So, how do I stay safe when it comes to video calling? Follow these 3 steps to be as secure as possible!

• Stay up-to-date

  It may seem simple but keeping on top of your updates is the easiest way of staying secure. As soon as a company finds a weakness or exploitation it will release an update to patch it up! Setting updates to automatically update saves you the hassle of checking manually as well - so there’s no excuse for delaying them!

• Learn the software

  Isn’t it great when you open an app, select your friends or colleagues and, hey presto, you’re chatting away without any fuss! Sure it’s slick but taking the time to check your settings and features can ensure your call stays private. Look to see whether you can lock the meeting, restrict screen sharing etc to ensure your get together stays safe.

• Share links sensibly

Most video platforms such as: Zoom, Webex, Skype and even Facetime allow you to create a link and share that with people for easy access to a meeting. Great! Well, only if you secure the link to stop eavesdroppers logging into your meeting. Never publish your links via social media, even in their DM’s. Instead, use email (if you have security measures in place) or Telegram, iMessage or WhatsApp for end-to-end encryption.

As always, if you have any questions regarding security or remote calling please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at: info@mvnc.uk

Maven Consultancy