Zoom owns many servers, some of which are located in China.

IT then changed its mind, and even so users still didn't feel it was acting in their best interest by delaying the rollout of E2EE for all and with an additional barrier for non-paying customers.Ī second controversy related to encryption keys. The controversy has to do with the implication that Zoom would only protect users' conversations from law enforcement if they were paying customers. Moreover, this phone verification system would not go into effect immediately. The company announced it would not provide E2EE to free account holders then after some backlash, the company reverted its decision saying it would encrypt all calls but only if free account holders verify their accounts with a phone number. The matter of encryption got more complicated in June, 2020. But end-to-end encryption is not available for Zoom via other devices, such as dialing into the audio of a Zoom call using a telephone. It had to amend that claim, however, to say end-to-end encryption was used only for calls between people using Zoom apps or Zoom Room, provided no one is recording the call (which is an option in the app). In some cases, however, it has failed to offer solutions that many people find acceptable.įirst, the company previously said that Zoom used end-to-end encryption (E2EE). The company has been quick to issue clarifications and fixes for most of the problems.

For Zoom, several flaws and gaffes have come to light. With increased use comes increased scrutiny, as well as increased attempts at exploitation. We've listed some of them below with links to in-depth reviews where available. There are plenty of alternatives should Zoom not meet your standards. That said, in terms of features, stability, and reliability, Zoom remains one of the best video calling apps you'll find. We at PCMag believe users should not only be aware of the criticisms, but also informed of the facts before deciding to whether or not to use Zoom. The more people use Zoom, however, the more it's come under scrutiny.ĭuring the first half of 2020, security experts, educators, and average users criticized Zoom on several fronts, which we'll elaborate on momentarily. The app works for other kinds of get-togethers, too, from virtual funerals to happy hours.

For people working from home, Zoom is now practically synonymous with having a meeting. In this environment, Zoom Meetings (free, with paid plans starting at $14.99 per month per host) has taken hold and become a top choice among video conferencing apps both for business and personal use.

Best Malware Removal and Protection SoftwareĪn enormous number of people are staying away from each other as the world tries to prevent COVID-19 from spreading.

Zoom meetings