Zoom has faced several privacy and security concerns as more people turn to it as a way to communicate. Businesses, including SpaceX, have begun telling employees to stop using the service, while others, including consumers, have started opting for alternatives. But what if you still need to use Zoom? We’ll teach you how to increase your privacy and security on what is quickly becoming one of the web’s most popular video conferencing services.
Zoom has begun to handle a large number of its security flaws, already jumping to enable passwords for conference entry with digital waiting rooms and stopping its mobile iOS app from sending data to Facebook in the background. Most of these changes take place in the cloud, but some require you to update your software. To update the Zoom client, follow these instructions:
Step 1: Open the Zoom desktop app.
Step 2: Click on your profile picture icon in the upper-right corner.
Step 3: Select the Check for Updates option.
Step 4: If there is an update, Zoom will take a few moments to load it. Select Update. Zoom will then update and restart itself to complete the updating process.
Step 2: Search for the Zoom app.
Step 3: If an update is available, the button will say Update.
Step 4: Tap the Update button if available to begin.
Step 1: Open the Play Store app. Tap on the Menu icon in the top-left corner (three stacked horizontal lines).
Step 2: Select My Apps & Games.
Step 3: If Zoom has an update available, it should appear within the Updates tab, under Updates Pending, and have an Update button to the right of it, as it should with any other Android app. Tap this button to start the update process.
Alternatively, you can also select the Installed tab and then scroll down until you see Zoom. If an update is available, you should still see an Update button to the right of it.
Step 4: You can also see if Zoom is up to date by opening the app itself, tapping the Settings icon, selecting About, and then tapping Version. If the app is up to date, a dialog box will appear saying so.
Zoom is working on updating privacy bugs and issues such as zoombombing, which is when an uninvited individual drops into an unlocked meeting and broadcasts violent or pornographic content. We recommend ensuring the following settings are altered to protect your session against these types of attacks. Please note that as Zoom is quickly rolling out updates, some of the defaults below may change, but double-checking them can never hurt.
To update any of the settings noted above, the host can make changes by logging into their Zoom account on the Zoom web portal. Once logged in, click the Settings option on the right side of the screen. You should then be able to find the above settings under the Meeting tab by scrolling down the list of settings under this section.
While in a meeting, some privacy settings can be adjusted via the Share Screen button, but most control is offered in the web portal’s Settings menu.
The best way to keep yourself protected from Zoom? Don’t use it. If you can make the change, opt for other meeting solutions such as Skype or Google Meet. If your entire team or family uses Apple products, you can also opt for FaceTime — a solution that is fully end-to-end encrypted. Mobile users can also consider Google Duo, a solution that works on both Android and iOS devices. For a full list of options, be sure to check out our guide to the best videoconferencing software and find what works best for you.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.