In recent weeks, Zoom has taken center stage as meetings and classes around the world move online. However, as with any popular technology, people with malicious intent have found ways to exploit the tool, and ‘Zoom bombing’ has been featured in news headlines as lectures, doctoral dissertations, meetings and more are hijacked.

To help prevent Zoom bombing at FSU, follow the tips below to help ensure FSU has a safe and welcoming learning and gathering space.

Use FSU Zoom
FSU uses a special Zoom for Education product that provides enhanced security and privacy. Instead of using a free Zoom account, always sign in to your FSU Zoom account with your FSUID and password: fsu.zoom.us

Set a Unique Meeting ID
When you schedule a Zoom meeting, choose Generate Automatically under the Meeting ID options. This plugs one of the biggest holes Zoom-bombers can exploit.

Require Users to Sign In
Under Meeting Options, select Only authenticated users can join to restrict access to attendees who have Zoom accounts. Participants will either have to sign in before joining your meeting or join by phone.

Require Meeting Password
Check this box to require meeting participants to enter a password before joining the meeting. The password is automatically included in the meeting invitation, or embedded in the course link if you are using the Zoom integration for Canvas.

Never Share Meeting Links Publicly
Send meeting links directly to meeting attendees. For course meetings, use the Canvas integration to schedule your Zoom meetings so you don’t have to send an announcement with the link. Never share Zoom meeting links over social media or public websites. This allows anyone with the link (and password!) to jump into the meeting.

Create a Waiting Room
Adding this Meeting Options feature allows you to control when a participant joins the meeting. You can let people in all at once or one at a time, and if you see a name you don’t recognize, you don’t have to let them in. This feature is great for small meetings or meetings with a co-host who can help manage participants.

Designate a Co-Host
During a large meeting, designate a co-host to help manage and moderate participants. Either set someone up as an Alternative Host in the meeting invite, or hover over a participant’s name during a meeting and select More and Make Co-Host.

Limit Screen Sharing to Only Host
To prevent participants from sharing their screens, click the arrow next to the Share Screen button and click Advanced Sharing Options. Under Who Can Share? select Only Host.

Disable Private Chat
This option allows the host to send messages to everyone, but participants can send messages only to the host. During a meeting, select Chat from the control bar then click More and check Host Only.

Kick Someone Out
If someone is being unruly during the meeting, go to the participant window, hover over the name of the person you want to remove and select More and Remove. You can also place someone on hold or stop their video or audio feed.

Keep Your Zoom App Up To Date
Zoom is consistently releasing new security features. Regularly check for updates to make sure you are using the latest version.

Download the 10 Ways to Secure Zoom Meetings infographic.