Google Bans Employees From Using Zoom Amid Security Concerns
Zoom has been in the news quite a lot recently due to concerns over security and privacy. The video-conferencing app, which gained popularity due to more people working from home in recent weeks, has been scrambling to address security vulnerabilities over the past week or so.
And now, Google has banned its employees from using Zoom due to security concerns. Elon Musk’s SpaceX also banned employees from using the Zoom app for the same reason.
BuzzFeed News reports that Google started notifying users with Zoom installed on their employee devices last week, stating that their device will stop working if the app is not removed. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said that Zoom’s desktop client did not meet the company’s security standards for apps that are used by employees on company devices.
“Recently, our security team informed employees using Zoom Desktop Client that it will no longer run on corporate computers as it does not meet our security standards for apps used by our employees. Employees who have been using Zoom to stay in touch with family and friends can continue to do so through a web browser or via mobile,” the spokesperson said.
As Zoom is quickly gaining popularity, the company is also facing lots of new problems surrounding security and privacy. We recently reported that the Zoom app was silently sending user data to Facebook, an issue that was quickly addressed by the company after it was discovered by the public. Zoom calls were also found not be end-to-end encrypted as the company advertised. These are just some of the issues, and the company is scrambling to address these concerns to restore its reputation.
Just today, for example, Zoom formed a CISO Council and Advisory Board with security leaders from the industry, to discuss issues about security and privacy going forward. It also introduced a new Security Toolbar on its app to make it easier for Zoom hosts to control their calls and making additional changes to the service to improve the overall security of the platform.