What Is Zoom Bombing and How Can You Prevent It?

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You may remember hearing about Zoom bombing if you were active online during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns that, almost overnight, made virtual video calls commonplace around much of the world. Learn what Zoom bombing is and what steps you can take to avoid it.

What Is Zoom Bombing?

Zoom bombing is the unwanted intrusion into a video call by someone who isn’t invited. Typically, this person will intentionally disrupt the meeting. The type of disruptions Zoom bombers can cause varies from playing loud music to displaying obscene or offensive material for everyone in the meeting to see. While the term originated with the video conferencing platform Zoom, it also applies to Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and similar platforms.

The main issue with Zoom bombing is that it occurs in real time. Because the platform is interactive, the Zoom bomber can cause a wide range of disruptions. The fact that many people have their names, faces and voices on display during a virtual call can also provoke an unpleasant sense of vulnerability. 

Zoom bombing isn’t always about someone targeting a meeting and causing maximum disruption, though. Sometimes, a person comes across a link and tries to blend in by keeping their camera off and posing as an invited guest, which may give them access to sensitive information.

How Did Zoom Bombing Become Common So Fast?

Zoom bombing’s rise coincides with the rise of video conferencing platforms during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people were ignorant of the ins and outs of video conferencing at the time, as they tended to only use it for informal one-to-one calls. This includes managers and team leaders who led important meetings and may not have known how to securely set up a private meeting with multiple people joining. 

Publicly shared links on social media, a lack of password protection and the sudden mass adoption of unfamiliar technology caused Zoom bombing to become prevalent so quickly. These issues were exploited by people who knew how these platforms worked and had time on their hands during the pandemic to cause disruption and even collaborate with others to find links and share the disruption they’d caused. 

People were unprepared for these cyberattacks. In the early 2020s, Zoom bombing occurred in places expected to be secure. For example, an Italian Senate meeting was interrupted by a pornographic video, and a virtual town hall meeting was disrupted by someone making racist and sexist comments.

The Impact of Zoom Bombing

Zoom bombing should be taken seriously. It can cause emotional and psychological harm to the victims, particularly if the Zoom bombing targets them specifically.

It can also erode employees’ trust in the company they’re working for and damage an institution’s reputation. Wider security issues may also occur if the Zoom bomber obtains private and confidential information. 

How to Prevent Zoom Bombing

Preventing Zoom bombing isn’t too tricky if you know what you’re doing, thanks in no small part to the widespread attention it received. Platforms responded by implementing new and improved security features. Here are some of the most effective strategies. 

1. Utilize Waiting Rooms

Waiting rooms are handy as they let you control who enters a meeting. Participants wait in a virtual lobby and cannot enter until a host admits them.  

2. Password-Protect Meetings

Passwords ensure that unwanted people cannot join the meeting even if they are aware of its occurrence, provided you can trust the people you share the password with. Avoid generic passwords or those tied to the meeting’s context, such as “promotion” or “Christmas.”

Consider using a password manager. Strong passwords are vital for online safety, and many password managers can generate them instantly. 

3. Limit Screen Sharing

Screen sharing is often exploited by people who Zoom bomb. Set screen-sharing permissions so that only you or the presenter can share their screen. This also helps prevent participants from accidentally sharing their screen. 

4. Do Not Share Links Publicly

Do not share information about a meeting publicly, such as when it is, what platform it will be taking place on and any links or passwords. You should even avoid sharing links with trusted people who aren’t invited to the meeting. The more people who have sensitive information, the greater the chance it leaks and someone malicious gets hold of it. 

5. Familiarize Yourself With Moderation Tools

Most modern platforms have a range of moderation tools you can use if the meeting goes awry. A meeting’s host should be able to mute, remove and report a participant if they cause trouble. Knowing how to mute and remove participants quickly is essential to prevent issues. 

The majority of Zoom bombing cases occur when a legitimate attendee publicly shares the link and unintentionally invites trolls to cause trouble, so it’s important that you can respond accordingly.

6. Disable Unneeded Features

Features like file sharing can cause trouble, but these might not be necessary for your virtual meeting. Disable any features that you don’t need to reduce the scope of disruption. 

7. Mute All Participants If Possible

Muting all participants is a solid way to prevent issues if only the host is speaking. It is also worth asking participants to mute themselves even if they will talk at some points. Small noises, like pens clicking or chairs squeaking, can add up in meetings with many guests and cause distractions.

8. Lock the Meeting as Soon as Possible

Many modern platforms let you lock the meeting so people can’t join even if they have a link or password. Lock meetings as soon as all intended guests have arrived to prevent any unwanted people from entering. 

9. Require Participants to Have Their Camera On

Being able to see everyone in a meeting helps prevent uninvited people from gaining access and remaining undetected by keeping their camera off, not speaking and using a display name of someone familiar to the invitees. 

Keep Meetings Safe and Secure

Zoom bombing may be a joke to some, but it can be troubling for others. Modern platforms offer many tools to prevent Zoom bombing, making it unlikely to occur if you follow all necessary precautions. Virtual meetings are here to stay, so keep them safe by limiting who can join and share their screen, and by familiarising yourself with moderation tools.