Trolls break into meetings on Zoom • Hacker News Board

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#211

Post by kart23 » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:36 AM UTC

pjkundert wrote: post #27

I just set up passwords on Zoom rooms for a little room automation project I'm building. There's no drawbacks; you can send out a link that includes the password, so nobody gets left out (no matter how technically challenged). And, someone who "stumbles upon" the room can't just get access. All in all, Zoom has done a lot of things right, given the extremely challenging competitive environment they're in.

The password doesnt do anything for teachers who dont know how to use zoom. And people are not stumbling upon links. What happens is one kid sends the link to a bunch of other people, with the password, who can then join since zoom doesnt require accounts. There are obviously ways to alleviate this like the waiting room feature, or muting everyone and turning chat off, but the problem is that most teachers arent trained well with zooms capabilities and weaknesses.

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#212

Post by orthoxerox » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:46 AM UTC

blntechie wrote: post #202

sc11 wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm speculating, but they might find it more convenient to use a separate device for the video chat? Especially if you're using your laptop a lot during the video call, it's quite convenient to have the chat open elsewhere.

Works for them I guess but when screensharing especially for code, mobile phones and tablets don’t work well.

I doubt they code for a living.

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#213

Post by neuronic » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:48 AM UTC

sixothree wrote: post #148

dhosek wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given how cavalier zoom is about privacy and its history on the Mac, the only place I'd be willing to use it is on my phone or ipad where it's boxed in by Apple's restrictions and has undergone app review. Apple had to push a silent OS update to remove zoom's insecure secret web server.

How the heck is Zoom even HIPAA compliant?

And what about GDPR?

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#214

Post by strategarius » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:51 AM UTC

cc-d wrote: post #139

strategarius wrote: post #135

4 chan exist like 20 years or something. Does anyone ever thought about a legal way to shut it down and lock up couple of admins? I'm sure their stupid troll raids cost billions since it started.

> Does anyone ever thought about a legal way to shut it down and lock up couple of admins? Why on earth do you feel like this is an appropriate response to some people joining random zoom meetings?

Read my message again. I have serious concerns about your cognitive abilities.

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#215

Post by 2rsf » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:52 AM UTC

gnulinux wrote: post #87

syockit wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am out of the loop as to why Zoom is suddenly "blowing up". Even my workplace is using it now. Previously, we were using either Skype, Webex, or Jitsi. What does Zoom offer that the other three doesn't?

My therapist tried a whole bunch of different services with different clients. We first tried doxy.me which is a HIPAA approved tele-medical service. But the quality was HORRIBLE, it was unusable, so she asked me if I would be ok using Skype (since Skype is not encrypted) I said ok (since I need the session more than it being secure). It was fine. Then we tried Zoom next time around. I thought Zoom was better in term…

> since Skype is not encrypted

"All Skype-to-Skype voice, video, file transfers and instant messages are encrypted"

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA31/does-skype-use-encrypt...

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#216

Post by strategarius » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:53 AM UTC

fl0wenol wrote: post #157

strategarius wrote: post #135

4 chan exist like 20 years or something. Does anyone ever thought about a legal way to shut it down and lock up couple of admins? I'm sure their stupid troll raids cost billions since it started.

15 years old. Admins grip the banhammer tight on raiding threads, comply with warrants, so it stays up. That activity was driven to other sites set up for that purpose.

I guess. After all, there's Telegram, fortress of privacy

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#217

Post by orthoxerox » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:54 AM UTC

mlyle wrote: post #210

kzrdude wrote: post #208

Why has Zoom picked up so much? Hangouts, Skype, facebook all are established with video group calling functionality

Few things that are "free" handle massive numbers of participants well. Yes, Skype for Business etc can, but those options are commercial. There's also less usable, obscure stuff that does OK.

Skype for Business is a dumpster fire. We use it at work and it's terrible at graceful degradation, even for voice.

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#218

Post by neuronic » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:56 AM UTC

blntechie wrote: post #203

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. The gallery view (aka 'Brady Bunch' view) works significantly better than any other system, with a large number of users. Especially now where everyone is working remotely and you have large group chats IMO this is the biggest factor. 2. Related to the above, I have rarely, if ever, had a problem with Zoom quality. 3. The onboarding for new users (basically just share a link) is dead simple. Zoom realized that the…

I’m still not convinced these incremental improvements make it a $40 billion company.

Maybe ask Uber regarding senseless valuation, they oughta know about it.

Also gallery view + image/whatever recognition = ad tech heaven.

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#219

Post by bigfudge » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 7:57 AM UTC

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #155

boomer_joe wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yikes. Looks like a pretty misogynistic place.

Nonsense; 4chan doesn't hate women. They hate everyone. Every race, every gender, every religion, every nationality, every profession, every socioeconomic status. No matter who you are, 4chan will find a slur for you.

They seem more practiced at it if you are a woman though.

Re: Trolls break into meetings on Zoom

#220

Post by bartread » Wed, Apr 01, 2020, 8:00 AM UTC

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #134

syockit wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am out of the loop as to why Zoom is suddenly "blowing up". Even my workplace is using it now. Previously, we were using either Skype, Webex, or Jitsi. What does Zoom offer that the other three doesn't?

1. The gallery view (aka 'Brady Bunch' view) works significantly better than any other system, with a large number of users. Especially now where everyone is working remotely and you have large group chats IMO this is the biggest factor. 2. Related to the above, I have rarely, if ever, had a problem with Zoom quality. 3. The onboarding for new users (basically just share a link) is dead simple. Zoom realized that the…

> 2. Related to the above, I have rarely, if ever, had a problem with Zoom quality.

Massive factor here. You can use it and it mostly works extremely well. Much better than almost anything else, including the previously beloved Google Hangouts. In fairness to Microsoft, Teams is probably up there for quality nowadays too, but does lack a good gallery feature.

Compare this with WebEx. I can only assume Cisco are gradually winding it down to EOL because I haven't been on a WebEx call that was anything other than an absolute shitshow since around 2014. Even before this it was really just the best of the worst.

> 3. The onboarding for new users (basically just share a link) is dead simple. Zoom realized that the install process was a significant barrier and did more than anyone else to lower that barrier (of course, with lots of security/privacy issues to boot, but your average Joe isn't aware of those).

Again, agree. Zoom "just works"(TM) for most people, most of the time. And for most people, most of the time, that outweighs any security concerns.

It frustrates me that a certain segment of IT security professionals do not understand this. If you're one of these people, you need to realise that security is necessary but not sufficient. Security is a minimum requirement, but it is not even close to the bare minimum.

Your product actually needs to be good within the context of what users are trying to achieve with it. It needs to do exactly what it's supposed to without drama and fuss. The product is the means, not the end and so, by implication, is the security product.

Human nature is generally to choose things that reduce friction over those that add it, so find a way to build a product that is both secure and gets out of the way.