Since the start of the pandemic Zoom went through a popularity boom. Unfortunately, this resulted in the discovery of certain security issues - for example, sometimes uninvited participants could gain access to the meeting. Zoom has tried to address these issues and introduced new security features, and currently Zoom safety is much improved; however at the time when this is written (December 2020) some issues remain unresolved.

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So is Zoom okay to use?

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• If you want to host a meeting where you do not discuss private or sensitive information, for example a social or a hobby club meeting, then Zoom is absolutely fine to use. You will simply have to follow basic safety rules explained below.

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• However, if you want to discuss some information that has to stay strictly private, you may have to choose a different platform. If this information relates to your work, you will have to check with your organization's IT department for their recommended platform.

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In any case, you should always follow the basic safety rules:

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• If you make a Zoom account, keep your login and password secure.

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• Beware "phishing" emails - only click on any links in an email you receive if you know and trust the sender, even if the email looks official. If in doubt, you can always contact the Zoom help center.

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• If you host a meeting, you will see a number of security parameters, such as enabling the waiting room, which we discuss in the tutorial.

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