Zoom Video Conferencing App Reaches 300 Million Daily Users Despite Serious Security Problems

Lockdown orders for the CO.VID-19 pandemic have caused many people to work at home. As a result, video conferencing apps become useful tools for everybody, and the Zoom video conferencing app is one of the most popularly used. Last year, there were only 10 million people using this video conferencing app but the number has been increasing dramatically in spite of security and privacy issues of this app.

According to an update on the 90-day security plan of Eric Yuan on April 22, CEO of Zoom, from 200 million in March, now, after 3 weeks, the number of daily users is 300 million. Mr. Yuan also said that the company would stop updating new features for the app to spend more resources on dealing with privacy problems like "Zoombombing" when people without invitations can enter meetings.

Also on April 22, the company announced that the latest update, Zoom 5, will be available in a few days. This new version will support AES 256-bit GCM encryption. Account admin can also choose which data center they want their video call to be routed through.

As reported in a PC Mag report this week, users will be able to send a report when there are suspicious activities and this feature will be in security settings.

In separated news, in the context of rising security concerns, especially after scandals relating to security issues, the Indian Government launched a challenge of developing video conferencing apps for Indian companies and the winner will get Rs. 1 crore. A huge amount of data and information, including private things, is being shared online through apps like Zoom. “Innovation Challenge for Development of Video Conferencing Solution” is a chance for companies to develop ideas so that people working from home will be able to do their job more conveniently and safely.

Companies can register to the challenge from April 13 to April 30 and the result will be announced on July 29. The winning product needs to ensure convenience and safety criteria. People can use the app on any kind of device and in poor network conditions. This app also should have encrypted communication and not consume much power.

The prize is Rs. 1 crore from the government and a certificate by Minister of Electronics and Information Technology.

The Cyber Coordination Centre (CyCord) of Home Ministry warned about using Zoom and said that government officials shouldn’t use this app to avoid problems relating to security. Previously, India's nodal agency that deals with cyber-security threats (CERT-In) also had worn about Zoom’s security issues.  Some big organizations like Google or Standard also asked their staff not to use this app. Senators of the US Senate were asked to stop using Zoom for work.

A lot of people in India and even high-ranking Indian agencies have used the Zoom video conferencing app. Everyone is looking forward to a new effective and safe tool form working from home.

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