Zoom 5.0 rolls out with security enhancements

Zoom 5.0, the latest version of the video conferencing app, is announced as a response to the security and privacy concerns of its users. Coming with some security enhancements, the update comes with an upgraded data encryption standard and data routing to foster a safer and private online environment.

Zoom now supports the AES 256-bit GCM encryption assurances on your Zoom Meeting, Zoom Video Webinar, and Zoom Phone app.  It will take effect once all accounts are enabled with GCM.

Among other new features in the user experience and controls include:

• Security icon: Zoom’s security features are now grouped and can be navigated by clicking the Security icon in the meeting menu bar on the hosts’ interface.
• Robust host controls: Hosts can now report a user via the Security icon. They can also disable the ability of participants to rename themselves. Screen sharing for the Zoom Education plan can only be controlled by the host.
• Waiting Room default-on: An existing feature that allows a host to keep participants in individual virtual rooms before they are admitted to a meeting, Waiting Room is now on by default for Education, Basic, and single-license Pro accounts. Hosts may now also turn on the Waiting Room while their meeting is already in progress.
• Meeting password complexity and default-on:  Another existing Zoom feature, Meeting passwords is now on by default for most customers. For administered accounts, account admins now can define password complexity (such as length, alphanumeric, and special character requirements). Additionally, Zoom Phone admins may now adjust the length of the pin required for accessing voicemail.
• Cloud recordings passwords: Passwords are now set by default to all those accessing cloud recordings and require a complex password. For administered accounts, account admins now can define password complexity.
• Secure Account Contact Sharing: Zoom 5.0 will support a new data structure for larger organizations, allowing them to link contacts across multiple accounts so people can easily and securely search and find meetings, chat, and phone contacts.
• Dashboard enhancement: Admins on business, enterprise, and education plans can view how their meetings are connecting to Zoom data centers in their dashboard. This includes any data centers connected to HTTP Tunnel servers, as well as Conference Room Connectors and gateways.
• Additional: Users now have the option to customize chat notifications. New non-PMI meetings now have 11-digit IDs for added complexity,  and during a meeting, the meeting ID and Invite option have been moved from the main Zoom interface to the Participants menu. This makes it harder for a user to accidentally share their meeting ID.

The upgraded encryption will take effect across all accounts by May 30, 2020. The Zoom 5.0 is slated to release this week and can be downloaded here.