zoom phone

Video Conferencing Software Zoom Faces Scrutiny Over Hacks, Abusive Behavior During Meetings

The spread of “Zoombombing,” or hijacking a meeting room with abusive images or speech, has grown in scope as more Americans turn to teleconferencing for classroom instruction and workplace meetings.

As more Americans use video conferencing software to connect with coworkers, friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most popular platforms, Zoom, has faced several complaints from customers who have had their conferences “hijacked” by hackers.

The practice, also referred to as “Zoombombing,” has happened with several virtual classrooms and workplace meetings that did not have password protections for the meeting room and had their meeting room links available online.

The FBI’s Boston office issued a warning this week about the potential for hijacking after receiving several reports of “conferences being disrupted by pornographic and/or hate images and threatening language.”

One school in Massachusetts reported an incident where an unidentified individual dialed into the classroom, yelled a profanity and shared the teacher’s home address in the middle of the meeting. Another teacher reported that an unidentified individual appeared in their Zoom meeting room with visible swastika tattoos.

“As individuals continue the transition to online lessons and meetings, the FBI recommends exercising due diligence and caution in your cybersecurity effort,” the warning reads.

In a press statement, Zoom has said that it takes the security of its software seriously and that employees are “deeply upset” to hear about these types of attacks.

“For those hosting large, public group meetings, we strongly encourage hosts to review their settings and confirm that only the host can share their screen,” the company, which has faced criticism for cybersecurity issues in the past, said. “For those hosting private meetings, password protections are on by default and we recommend that users keep those protections on to prevent uninvited users from joining.”

The questions around Zoom’s cybersecurity practices and use of personal data have been escalated by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). The senator sent a letter to Zoom CEO Eric Yuan on Tuesday to seek information on Zoom’s protections against security threats and “abuse” of its services.

“The millions of Americans now unexpectedly attending school, celebrating birthdays, seeking medical help, and sharing evening drinks with friends over Zoom during the Coronavirus pandemic should not have to add privacy and cybersecurity fears to their ever-growing list of worries,” Blumenthal wrote.

New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a similar letter this week. Blumenthal has requested answers to his questions, which include inquiries about Zoom’s collection of personal data, use of “end-to-end encryption,” and policies against abusive behavior, by April 14.

In the meantime, users can report incidents of Zoombombing to the company so staff can take “appropriate action,” the company said. Victims of teleconference hijacking or any cyber crime can report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FBI offered other tips on preventing Zoombombing, including not sharing links to meeting rooms on unrestricted social media posts where trolls and hackers can find them.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.