Skype iOS app finally gets background blur feature, 17 months after Mac
The Skype iOS app is finally getting the background blur feature that first landed on desktop versions of the app way back in February of last year …
Zoom shattered App Store record in Q2; US overtook China in app downloads
During Q2 of this year, Zoom completely shattered the previous App Store record for downloads, previously set by TikTok, according to analytics data. While TikTok notched up 67 million US downloads in Q1, reports Sensor Tower, Zoom hit almost 94 million US downloads in Q2.
Demand for the videoconferencing app was of course driven by the coronavirus crisis, which saw record numbers of people working from home. Worldwide, across Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store, Zoom became only the third app to reach 300M downloads in a quarter, joining TikTok and Pokémon GO.
Sensor Tower says Zoom wasn’t the only app to benefit …
Zoom does 180 on encryption plans, will bring it to all users including free accounts in July
Video conferencing service Zoom has been quite the roller coaster ride over the last several months marked by serious flaws, misleading encryption claims, and massive user growth. Now after previously planning to keep end-to-end encryption as just a feature for paying customers, the company has reversed course and says free users will see it arrive in a beta coming in July alongside paid accounts.
Zoom revenue forecast doubled; offers unconvincing explanation on encryption
Zoom‘s revenue forecast has almost doubled as consumers and business users alike continue to rely on the videoconference platform during coronavirus lockdowns. However, the share price actually dropped as there was some bad news in the mix…
Zoom planning to roll out stronger encryption for paying customers, report says
Zoom has announced that it will “strengthen encryption of video calls” to help boost security for users. As reported by Reuters, the company plans to roll out this stronger encryption only to users who pay for Zoom, not those who use the free tier of the service.
[Update: Zoom fixes and new options] 10 Zoom alternatives for more secure, cross-platform video calls
Zoom has risen to the top as one of the most used video call apps as the coronavirus has spread around the globe. It’s cross-platform, free, and easy to set up calls for businesses and well as individuals. However, it has seen some serious security and privacy flaws (now fixed). For those looking for some good Zoom alternatives, follow along after the break for a range of choices for both business and personal use.
Zoom bought Keybase to bring end-to-end encryption to its videoconferences
A new blog post today reveals that Zoom bought Keybase, a 25-person startup specializing in encrypted message and file-sharing. It is the first acquisition in Zoom’s history …
Free Zoom accounts get three more security features this week
Free Zoom accounts will get three more security features on May 9 as the company continues its efforts to boost privacy protections and fight abuse like Zoom-bombing …
[Now arriving after delay] Zoom 5 offers new security and privacy features
Update: Zoom 5.0.0 is finally landing today, after initially being promised for April 22. It hasn’t yet shown up in all app stores, but should do so shortly.
Zoom security and privacy has been boosted with the addition of no fewer than nine new features in the latest update, Zoom 5.0 …
Skype for Mac updated with new Zoom-like custom virtual backgrounds
One of the features that has made Zoom such a popular solution for video calls recently is support for custom backgrounds. After implementing similar Zoom-like features earlier this month, Skype is now adding support for custom backgrounds.
Zoom alternative Houseparty consistently tops App Store social network charts
We suggested Houseparty as an alternative to Zoom earlier this month, and a report today indicates that it has seen 50 million sign-ups in the past month.
It has been the most popular social networking app in the App Store every day since March 20, giving it more daily downloads than Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp…
Zoom lets paying users opt out of Chinese servers, as 500k creds sold
Popular videoconferencing service Zoom will shortly allow paying subscribers to opt out of Chinese servers when routing calls …
Another Zoom ban, this time Singapore schools after ‘very serious incidents’
Another day, another Zoom ban …
Singapore teachers have been told not to use Zoom for remote lessons while schools are closed, following what the government described as ‘very serious incidents’ …
Zoom appoints Facebook’s former security chief as more organizations ban use
Zoom has created a security advisory council to help conduct a detailed review of its apps, with Alex Stamos as one of its members. Stamos was Facebook’s chief security officer from 2015 to 2018, and now researches and teaches on ‘the misuse of technology’ at Stanford …
Governments restrict or ban the use of Zoom, as company faces lawsuit
The Taiwanese government has made the decision to ban the use of Zoom over security concerns. The German government hasn’t gone quite that far, but the country’s foreign ministry has barred it from government computers and heavily restricted any use of the service …
Another day, another couple of Zoom vulnerabilities discovered …
It seems hardly a day can go by without more Zoom vulnerabilities being discovered – with not just one but two more being revealed today …
Following Mac flaw patches, Zoom fixes ‘malware-like’ macOS installer in latest update
After writing an apology note earlier today, fixing two serious Mac flaws, and detailing a plan to improve its security, privacy, and transparency moving forward, Zoom has also fixed its “malware-like” installer with the latest macOS update.
Zoom penetration tests commissioned to improve ‘trust, safety and privacy’
Zoom penetration tests have been commissioned by the popular videoconferencing service after a series of security and privacy issues were found in the company’s mobile and desktop apps.
Zoom’s problems have been a messy mixture of poor communication, sketchy marketing, rule-breaking, and actual security holes …
[Update: Zoom patches and responds] Ex-NSA hacker finds new Zoom flaws to takeover Macs again, including webcam, mic, and root access
Zoom, the popular video call service has had a number of privacy and security issues over the years and we’ve seen several very recently as Zoom has seen usage skyrocket during the coronavirus pandemic. Now two new bugs have been discovered that allow hackers to take control of Macs including the webcam, microphone, and even full root access.
Opinion: FaceTime for Android and Windows could make it the new default
Various people have suggested in the past that Apple should allow FaceTime for Android and Windows, in an attempt to make it the default standard for consumer video calls. That idea gained new impetus when Apple launched the Group FaceTime function for calls between up to 32 people.
But the coronavirus outbreak has taken consumer group videoconferencing to a whole new level. Back in February, most non-techies had never done it in their lives. Fast-forward to now, and Zoom conferences are a completely normal thing for everyone …
Zoom video calls are not actually end-to-end encrypted
As reported by The Intercept, the Zoom video conferencing app offers options for end to end encryption in its UI (and in its marketing materials) but the calls are not actually end-to-end encrypted at all.
The Zoom video app is bursting into the public consciousness this year as the coronavirus causes most people to work from home. However, the security of the app has come under fire in many ways. In this instance, it turns out Zoom calls are only encrypted in transmission. This means the central Zoom servers could decrypt the incoming calls and see all participants if the company wanted to.
Zoom iOS app quietly sending data to Facebook, even if you have no account [Update: Fixed]
Update: The app has now been updated to remove this data transfer. See below for an explanation from the company.
The Zoom iOS app is sharing data with Facebook, without declaring it in the privacy policy. This happens whether or not you have a Facebook account.
Data shared with Facebook includes your iPhone or iPad model, your time-zone, city, phone carrier and a unique identifier which can be used for ad-targeting …
Snapchat updated with new one-handed zoom feature [Video]
Today Snapchat received an update that brings a handy new ability to the popular social app. One-handed zoom, a feature that does exactly what it implies, makes it easier for users to take advantage of the camera’s digital zoom while capturing video.
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Google brings smooth Safari-like zoom to Chrome Canary for Mac
The latest build of Chrome Canary for Mac packs a great new feature that’s likely familiar to those who use Safari on a daily basis. While current stable builds of Chrome have a jaggedy pinch-to-zoom functionality that only zooms in 10% increments, the latest build of Chrome Canary provides a smooth buttery zoom experience like Apple’s browser.
As of right now, it looks like the feature works a little bit less fluidly than Apple’s offering, but that’s to expected in the most experimental public release version of Chrome. Zooming works the same way that it does in Safari and current versions of Chrome, so all it takes is pinching two fingers on the Trackpad.
If you’re sticking with Safari on your Mac for this reason or others (battery life, anyone?), it looks like this feature—once it makes its way to the stable release—will give you one more reason to switch over to Google’s browser. If you want to give it a try, head over and download the latest build of Chrome Canary.