Zoom Security Tips

If you’re one of the families who’ve begun using Zoom for school and connecting with family and friends, follow these best practices, shared by NEA’s Center for Innovation & Technology.

ZOOM DOS:

• DO ensure you use a unique, long, complex password. Shoot for att least 16 characters, incorporating spaces and punctuation.
• DO create a Waiting Room for attendees, only admitting those you recognize.
• DO use the setting that requires the host to be present before a meeting before it starts — this prevents attendees from joining before you are ready.
• DO expel any uninvited/unintended participants.
• DO lock a meeting after all participants have entered.
• DO limit screen sharing to “host only” for meetings whenever possible to eliminate Zoom-bombing.
• DO temporarily pause screen-sharing when opening a new window to switch between applications/browser windows. This avoids unintended sharing of other materials on your computer.
• DO require a password on meetings.
• DO ask attendees to mute themselves unless they are speaking to eliminate background noise and distractions.

ZOOM DO NOTS:

• DO NOT make your Zoom password the same as your NEA network/login password!
• DO NOT allow invitees to share the link with others; ask them to contact you to add the additional person(s) to the meeting invite. This prevents unintended participants and protects against a meeting being hijacked.
• DO NOT permit participants to record the meeting. As host, you can record the meeting if necessary and post later for access. 
• DO NOT send a meeting password in the same email/email chain as the URL for the meeting. Send it separately, with a new subject line or communicate via phone/text if possible.