What is Zoombombing? How to ensure safe online working when using Zoom

For many, the switch to working from home hasn’t been easy – those who were used to face-to-face communication and emails have now had to rely on phone and video calls for both work and personal use, which can be draining.

In addition to the mental toll this change has had, it has been made even harder by the significant increase in the number of cyberattacks plaguing businesses, especially on video conferencing platforms.

A significant number of businesses are now using video conferencing platforms like Zoom to communicate, which is easy to setup (according to Zoom, they now have over 200 million daily users, an increase of 1900% since December of last year). Unfortunately, the number of cyber attackers Zoombombing meetings also continues to rise.

What is Zoombombing?

Zoombombing is a type of cyberattack where the attacker hijacks a Zoom call. They then interrupt the call by writing or sharing inappropriate and offensive messages, images, and videos that are often racist, derogatory, or pornographic.

How does Zoombombing happen?

Cyber attackers look for easy targets. They’ve been able to Zoombomb meetings by doing a simple Google search for URLs that contain “zoom.us” and finding meeting passwords people have published on Twitter. Using their methods, it only took me 2 minutes to find an unprotected meeting link and password on Twitter!

What is an example of Zoombombing?

Zoombombing is happening globally, with businesses, churches, schools, and organizations reporting Zoombombing incidents.

Von Glitschka, Creative Director of the design firm Glitschka Studios, shared out the meeting details for his Zoom call on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter so he could teach people how to create designs in Adobe Illustrator. Without warning, the meeting members were subjected to racial slurs and neo-Nazism, CNBC reported.

How do I protect myself from Zoombombing?

These guides provide steps you can take to help you protect your Zoom meetings.

How do I report Zoombombing?

To address the increasing number of Zoombombing incidents, Zoom has added a reporting tool to their platform. To report a Zoombombing incident, follow the steps outlined in their article on how to report abusive behavior.

Further resources

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the other risks that threaten yourself and your business, which can include phishing, malware, spyware, and more. Check out our whitepapers and blog posts that cover these topics in depth:

Internet in the Office: Protect Employees and Boost Productivity

How to Detect Phishing Attacks

How to Protect Yourself from Cybercrime (When Working from Home)

6 Types of Cybercrime and How to Protect Yourself

How to Protect Your Small Business Against Cyberattacks