Keep your video calls private, whether you’re working or not

Keep video calls private, whether you are working or leisure

This article has been updated. Originally published on April 21, 2020

Many of us have become very familiar with video calling software over the past few years, but by default it is dangerous to think that your live chat is safe and private. If you want to minimize the risk of uninvited guests snooping into your call (or even joining your call), there are some precautions worth taking.

The details and exact settings of these security measures vary by platform, but many principles are the same regardless of which video chat app you use.

Protect your meeting links

Many video conferences start with invitation links, so keep your link carefully. Do not place it in public social media posts, mass emails, online profiles or any other place that may be found and stolen.

Most video calling apps also allow you to protect your calls with your password; take advantage of this feature whenever possible and be aware of how to distribute login information to invited guests. Make sure it is not something that is easy to guess (such as your last name).

If you can lock in video chat, be sure to do this. For example, the popular Houseparty app allows you to lock the room by clicking the padlock icon after all guests arrive, while the more business-oriented Zoom has the lock meeting option to perform the same task (as Host or co-host, click Safe to find it).

Share content with caution

You should always pay attention to what you share online, including what you say and do in your video call. Even if you think you are with friends, you never know who might get a recording or join without announcement, so be aware of what you reveal. Do not disclose personal information unless absolutely necessary.

If you don't want participants to peek at your bookshelf, your child's photos, or any secret blueprints posted on the wall, move to where these things are no longer visible, or find useful ones in the app you use Options. For example, Zoom has a virtual background in its video settings, while Skype has a toggle that blurs anything behind you.

[Related: How to host an absolutely wonderful virtual party]

Also note file and screen sharing: Organize your browser tabs, close the spreadsheet that shows your financial transactions, and hide chats with your partner before sharing the desktop with a group of working colleagues.

Understand the rules

It is worth knowing the ins and outs of any video software, so do a study. Check if a call may be logged, find detailed information on how to use your account data, and absolutely determine who can join your call and how they can join.

For example, take Zoom as an example: If you download a chat history with a video call, it will also include any private, one-to-one chat between participants. If everyone is civilized, that's OK, but you don't want your boss to find you chatting with colleagues about their presentations while pretending to be careful.

You also need to know exactly where the data associated with your video application is stored on your computer or phone, especially when processing sensitive information and documents. Take Skype as an example: it saves the photos you receive to your device unless you change this setting (go to the message in the settings on Android or iOS to configure this Option).

Select end-to-end encryption

As with text chat apps, it's a good idea to find end-to-end encryption in your video conferencing tools. This means that even if law enforcement agencies present search warrants to the developer’s office, no one else can eavesdrop on or access your communications. Your video call is completely locked.

Major video applications with end-to-end encryption include FaceTime for Google Duo and Apple, as well as more business-oriented Webex and GoToMeeting from Cisco. Instant messaging applications with video call options sometimes offer end-to-end encryption—WhatsApp and Signal are two examples.

Video calling applications without end-to-end encryption, such as Skype, often lack this feature because they support a wider range of device and connectivity standards that cannot be protected in the same way. This isn't necessarily a bad or unsafe approach, but it does mean you have to trust the company running the software. Zoom is somewhere between these two extremes: You can enable end-to-end encryption as you want.

Update your software

This is another security precaution you should apply in full, not just for video calls and video chat apps. If you want the best protection against any potential security vulnerabilities, keep your video applications (and the devices running them) updated.

When security vulnerabilities appear, they most often appear in old, outdated applications. Fortunately, it's easy to keep your apps and devices patched with the latest code on all major platforms. In most cases, you don't need to do anything, just confirm the update.

[Related: Why You Should Stop Delaying Device Updates]

If you have time, please follow news about app updates. Doing so will give you a better understanding of the various privacy and security features you can use.

Enable additional privacy features

Apart from what we mentioned here, it is always worth delving into the settings yourself to see if there is anything that suits your needs. For example, in Skype, you can choose whether other users can find you via phone number or email address (click here to find settings on the network, under Contact).

FaceTime also has similar features. Open the settings on your iPhone or iPad and click FaceTime to control how others find you through their phone number or email address. This can help if you don't want to be contacted by a long-standing alumni or distant relative.

The Knock Knock feature is also available in Google Duo, which displays your video feed before you call a contact before they answer. If you are uncomfortable with this, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the main Duo app interface and click

Set and Knock Knock to turn it off.

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