Is Zoom safe to use?

Video – vlog #02

Should we use Zoom as a business tool?

As the #LockDown came into affect due to #Coronovirus an idea was born between David Logan and Willie Nicol – Life Coach based in Scotland, UK.

Script – vlog #02

David Logan: Hi there. My name is David Logan, the IT geek. I help people explain technology. Keep it simple. Keep it short. Today, I’m joined by a fellow networker. Willie Nicol.

Willie Nicol: Thanks, David. My name is Willie Nicoll. I’m a life coach. I now describe myself as a techno dinosaur, which is why I am glad to be able to call upon David to help me.

David Logan: Excellent, excellent. Willie. We’re looking at technology and believe you have a question for me. If you can ask away.

Willie Nicol: Yes, thanks, David .. In today’s trying times, we’re all going online while using a platform called Zoom, as we are doing right now. However, in the past few days I’ve seen several posts on social media concerns about security of Zoom. Now should I and my fellow techno dinosaurs be concerned about this?

David Logan: OK, so zoom – as you know, we are using and your new to zoom – the platform is that correct?

Willie Nicol: I have used infrequently, but I wouldn’t say I was a particularly adept at it. So the techno dinosaur in me needs some help.

David Logan: Excellent. So yeah, zoom as a great tool has been used more and more and more so since we’ve been isolated, shut, closed down, now working from our own homes at. Zoom has it’s holes in the security system. Now there’s lot of stuff I’ve been reading. Yes. If you want to keep something confidential. Like business meetings, I would strongly suggest from what I’m reading. Not to use Zoom. Think of Zoom people can take this video and they can put it onto YouTube. You know YouTube, don’t you? information on the Internets suggests videos can be taken on YouTube. Now, in our scenario, we are looking at, getting as many eyes as we can on these videos. Do you see that being a problem?

Willie Nicol: No, David, I don’t. I don’t have a feeling that with all due respect to both of us, that the hackers would be interested of what we have to say, and I appreciate your saying about confidentiality. Now just that when I see a concern about security, my own police head kicks in and I start to worry. So that’s why I’m asking the question.

David Logan: So one thing that does concern me, though, is they’ve not come out clean yet. They’ve said video recording like what you and I are doing now. They are saying it’s end-to-end encryption. So I’m not going to ask you the question, because encryption, I am the assuing it will go staight over your head. End-to-end encryption is where the message, the data is sent, from one end to the other end securely. The message is wrapped around, decoded with a key.

David Logan: At the other end there is a matching key whihc can decode that code. So you say hello here and we’ll load the garbage in between. We have a key here. And it decodes that code and it comes out. Hello. That is what Zoom pertain to say. You say we can do end to end encryption. We can keep your video conversation secure. Some parts are secure. Other parts are not. Does that help you? Does that explain it?

Willie Nicol: Yes. Thanks. I actually do have an idea about end-to-end encryption and what you’ve just described. However i think it’s not very nice of Zoom to pertain that were totally secure when you’re saying that we’re not secure, however, in the context of what you and I are doing and giving people a bit of advice. One to one conversations like this should they be OK?

David Logan: Absolutely, but you see where the concern is in the business environment if they want to keep it confidential? So any more questions?

Willie Nicol: How loud does that thing sound?? I’m okay with that – I’m quite comfortable doing what we are doing just now David on Zoom and doing one-2-ones and just hope my bank details and everything confidential.

David Logan: Okay, great. Thank you. So to the viewer, I hope this answers your question and if you have any other technical questions – feel free to send us a message to Willie and or myself – David.

Willie Nicol: Thank you. Have a great week. Stay safe and be healthy. Thank you.