Zoom is getting its security act together with incoming update

Zoom has now surpassed 300 million daily users despite ongoing security troubles, the company announced on Wednesday.

It will soon release version 5.0 of its video conferencing platform as part of a 90-day security enhancement plan. The new version addresses some key protection and privacy matters, including the addition of a new encryption protocol, a single home for all security features, and the ability to report users for inappropriate conduct.

“I am proud to reach this step in our 90-day plan, but this is just the beginning. We built our business by delivering happiness to our customers. We will earn our customers’ trust and deliver them happiness with our unwavering focus on providing the most secure platform,” Zoom CEO Eric Yuan noted in a press release.

Zoom 5.0 will start rolling out this week. Here are all the new security and privacy enhancements you can expect from the service.

Stronger encryption

Zoom was already encrypting in-meeting and in-webinar presentation content on its platform. It is now strengthening that encryption by upgrading to the AES 256-bit GCM standard. In simple terms, the new cryptographic mode will further ensure that the content you share on Zoom cannot be intercepted by an outside audience. It’ll also protect users against Zoombombing, a practice where unwanted participants crash meetings.

The new encryption protocol will secure Zoom meetings, webinars, and dial-in calls once it’s applied to all accounts. Zoom says that the new feature will roll out system-wide on May 30.

Control over data routing

Zoom account admins and meeting hosts will now be able to choose which data center regions their meetings and webinars use for real-time traffic. This could be useful for organizations that don’t want their meeting traffic to be routed through unwanted regions and countries.

New security icon and controls to report users

Zoom 5.0 will also group all the security settings in one place, making them easier to discover. This feature has already rolled out for some users and will get a wider release in the new version.

Users can find all the security features by clicking the security icon in the meeting menu bar on the host’s interface (see image above).

Participants will also be able to report users to Zoom’s Trust & Safety team for inappropriate conduct. The “Report a User” option will also be available via the aforementioned security icon.

Once a report is generated against a user, Zoom will review any potential misuse of the platform and take necessary action.

Besides these new features, Zoom’s new version will also carry over privacy enhancements such as default waiting room, hidden meeting IDs, mandatory passwords and more from the current version of the platform.

Once the new version is made available, you will be able to download it here.

Hopefully, Zoom’s latest security measures are effective enough to prompt companies and countries to revoke ongoing bans and advisories against the service. You can expect some more security-focused feature additions to Zoom as the company moves forward with its 90-day plan.