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I'll pass on your zoom call

operand.online

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Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#41

Post by antonvs »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #27

> If there's one [zoom call] I really need to be on, I'm going to spin up a VM on my computer so that it has no idea of the other files laying around, such as my ~/passcodes.csv` Oh come now. You don't really think Zoom is exfiltrating unrelated files from your computer, do you? If they got caught doing this, it would be such a major scandal... why risk it? And even though the client is closed-source I do think they'…

For the average user, you're probably right. In more secure environments, relying on the rational behavior of outside parties for your security isn't tenable.

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#42

Post by mat0 »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #27

> If there's one [zoom call] I really need to be on, I'm going to spin up a VM on my computer so that it has no idea of the other files laying around, such as my ~/passcodes.csv` Oh come now. You don't really think Zoom is exfiltrating unrelated files from your computer, do you? If they got caught doing this, it would be such a major scandal... why risk it? And even though the client is closed-source I do think they'…

Or just open the call in the browser. It’s much easier to do that than to spin a vm. At this point I just distrust the author

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#43

Post by ghgr »

> If there's one that I really need to be on, I'm going to spin up a VM on my computer so that it has no idea of the other files laying around, such as my ~/passcodes.csv. If you are such a negligent bullhead as to get me onto your call, you'll be unable to see me because my VM cannot access my camera! By design! Same for my microphone, so I'll plug in a USB mic if I really need to speak up. More likely than not though, I'm exhausted by now. I'll spend the full duration of the call eeking a small echo of pleasure from the continuation of this rambling alarm, for your sheepish audience to rub their enablist shame in.

This is written in an edgy tone but it's pretty much SOP with QubesOS. Why would you install _anything_ in your main VM? Not just Zoom, but anything you import in a deep dependency graph can access your figurative ~/passcodes.csv anyway.

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#44

Post by prmoustache »

SoftTalker wrote: post #28
smoyer wrote: post #13

When Zoom took the world by storm due to the pandemic, they're security was known to be horrible. They aquihired the keybase team who are crypto experts and this presumably had some measure of positive effect.

The advantage of Zoom was that it just worked. No more spending the first 10 minutes of a call making sure everyone is online and can see/hear you. Or at least greatly improved.

Most of the issues people had was authorizing their webcam/microhpone on their browser, it was no different/better with Zoom than any other service.

And other services also had their own easy to install app (I think Jitsi only dropped the desktop app fairly recently).

I think the only thing really easier with Zoom was remembering the name. I think the brand constitutes 99% of its success.

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#45

Post by sciencejerk »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #27

> If there's one [zoom call] I really need to be on, I'm going to spin up a VM on my computer so that it has no idea of the other files laying around, such as my ~/passcodes.csv` Oh come now. You don't really think Zoom is exfiltrating unrelated files from your computer, do you? If they got caught doing this, it would be such a major scandal... why risk it? And even though the client is closed-source I do think they'…

They wouldn't do it "intentionally". It would be an mistake "accidentally" made by a Developer or AI, that under the right conditions allows Zoom employees, etc arbitrary file reads on the host...

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#47

Post by sublinear »

Do people really still use Zoom in 2026?

I hate Teams, but it's so common now that I can't remember the last time I ever took a call that wasn't on it. If I had to take one from another platform I'd assume it was sketchy!

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#49

Post by sublinear »

pmg101 wrote: post #46
mkmk wrote: post #8

Reminds me of the saying "Pessimists are often right. Optimists are often rich."

As a pessimist who's often right, and not rich, this resonates. But how can this be true? Surely you get rich by being right?

Pessimists are just as often wrong too! Clearly the person you're replying to is an "optimist". :)

To be clear, I don't think there's a strong correlation between being rich and being a pessimist/optimist.

And to your original point, being right cannot possibly be biased towards optimism or pessimism. Any apparent correlation is more of a reflection on what everyone else thinks... and they are wrong! Cheers to being right!

Re: I'll pass on your zoom call

#50

Post by [deleted] »

aj2048 wrote: post #19
smoyer wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can also install and run Zoom in FlatPak which secures your computer by running the executable in BubbleWrap. If you know what you're doing, you can also sandbox it directly.

Flatpak is handy, but given their history, if I can run it in the browser, I'll leave it there. I don't want it, even in a sandbox. Check out these CVEs: * https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-49457 * https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-22844

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