Zoom continues to implement new security updates and user interface enhancements aimed at improving privacy on the popular platform. Among the changes, announced last week during a company webinar, is the temporary removal of GIF-sharing service Giphy.
"To ensure strong privacy protection for users, we've temporarily removed the Giphy integration in Zoom Chat," according to a blog post. "Once additional technical and security measures have been deployed, we will re-enable the feature."
There is no word on how long people will be without access to looping videos. In the meantime, you'll have to revert to the usual suspects like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Hangouts to share animations.
Zoom has been a blessing and a curse during the COVID-19 lockdown. The video conferencing software rose to popularity in February as folks began working and learning from home. But with great power comes great responsibility: Unwanted intrusions (known as Zoom-bombing) attracted FBI attention, companies and schools banned use of the app, and security was called into question.
In response, the firm rolled out features like Waiting Room, end-to-end encryption, and the ability to report attacks in real time. Now it's adding even more tools:
Screen sharing: Set to Host Only by default (for single Zoom Pro accounts); hosts and co-hosts can grant access to other participants via Security
Consent for unmute: Hosts can no longer unmute participants without consent; option for hosts to Unmute All at once temporarily removed
Waiting Room audio: Chime plays when someone enters Waiting Room; Hosts can enable audio alerts when people join or leave video call
Meeting info during screen share: Access information (including meeting ID) while sharing screens
Multiple login restrictions: Hosts can choose to allow participants to join from multiple devices when registration is required
Further Reading
- FBI: Disturbing Number of Zoom-Bombings Include Child Porn Images
- Messenger Rooms, Facebook's Zoom Competitor, Launches in North America
- Zoom Faces Lawsuit Over Bible Study Zoom-Bombing Incident
- Zoom Acquires Keybase to Help It Build End-to-End Encryption for Video Sessions
- More in How to Work From Home
- More in Video Conferencing Software