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Zoom Updates
Zoom is a video conferencing tool for remote teaching, learning and working. Learn how to prevent security issues and keep your software updated.
Security Alert: Keep your Zoom software updated. You can download the latest version from the Zoom website or update while logged in. Watch the video, How to Update Your Zoom Client, for instructions. |
- Academic class recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be deleted 60 days from the official last day of each semester.
- Non-academic recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be deleted 9 months after the recording date.
- Deleted recordings will be stored in the Zoom trash for 30 days and can only be retrieved and downloaded by the meeting host.
- After 30 days, the recordings are permanently removed and will no longer be accessible. The meeting host will receive a notification 7 days prior to the recording being permanently deleted. This is the meeting host’s final opportunity to download and store the recording in an alternative location.
Please note it is the responsibility of the meeting host to ensure all recordings are retained in accordance with university guidelines and compliance requirements, including FERPA: https://registrar.rice.edu/facstaff/ferpa_FAQs/
- Academic class recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be deleted 60 days from the official last day of each semester.
- Non-academic recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be deleted 9 months after the recording date.
- Deleted recordings will be stored in the Zoom trash for 30 days and can only be retrieved and downloaded by the meeting host.
- After 30 days, the recordings are permanently removed and will no longer be accessible. The meeting host will receive a notification 7 days prior to the recording being permanently deleted. This is the meeting host’s final opportunity to download and store the recording in an alternative location.
Recommendations
Stay up-to-date. Zoom has been addressing privacy concerns and updating software frequently so check for updates regularly. For more update information, see Zoom Release Notes and News.
News and Release Notes
Meetings and Webinars
- Multi-pin and
Multi-spotlight: With host permission, users can pin up to 9
participants on their end. The host can also spotlight up to 9
participants for everyone in their meeting.
- Custom Gallery View
Organization: Hosts and co-hosts can now re-order the gallery
view to suit their needs, and choose whether to deploy this view to
participants, or allow participants to create their own custom views.
Simply click and drag videos to the position you want them in gallery
view, and this layout will remain in place until released.
- High Fidelity Audio
Mode: This option in Advanced Audio enhances “Original Audio”
mode, allowing for disabling echo cancellation & post-processing,
while raising audio codec quality to 48Khz, 96Kbps mono/192kbps stereo for
professional audio transmission in music education and performance
applications. Professional audio interface, microphone, and headphones are
required.
- Custom Languages for
Language Interpretation: Custom languages are now supported, in
addition to the default languages that are already provided. Custom
languages must be configured on the Web portal by the host. Interpreters
and participants accessing the custom languages will need to be on client
5.2.1 or later to use this feature.
Webinars
- Phone Audio Options
for Webinar Attendees: Webinar attendees can now access Phone
Call and Call Me options for audio, in addition to the Computer Audio
option. An admin must enable the premium Call-Out feature on the Web
portal, which requires the Audio Conferencing add-on.
6-15-20
Version 5.1.0 released today. See release notes for details.
- Unmute all for meetings of 200 participants or fewer
- Webinar features: Option to delete questions
- Phone features
- Personal locations for nomadic emergency services
- Reconnect option
- Enhancements to hiding outbound caller ID
- Display names for phone numbers
6-4-20
New updates to Zoom clients include minor bug fixes and these changes. See release notes for details.
- Re-enable GIPHY for Zoom chat.
- Chat features:
- Improved transparency of channel privacy controls
- Enabling public channel admins and members to add external users
6-2-20
Alert: Hackers are targeting people with malicious Zoom installers. Only update your Zoom software via Zoom's Download Center (https://zoom.us/download). Read PSA: Fake Zoom installers being used to distribute malware.
5-27-20
Zoom was updated to 5.0.4 (25694.0524) with bug fixes.
5-17-20
Zoom was updated to 5.0.3 (24951.0515) with the following changes:
Existing features
- New default screen sharing settings for accounts with single Pro licenses. Accounts with single Pro licenses will now have the screen sharing setting Who can share? defaulted to Host Only. The meeting host will be able to change this setting in their meeting settings or during the meeting in progress, from the Security icon.
- Language Interpretation flag icon will be replaced by language abbreviation. The icon next to the interpreted language will now list the language abbreviation, instead of a flag.
- Require consent if the host mutes and then unmutes a participant. If the host mutes and then unmutes a participant individually, the participant will now receive a prompt, asking them to consent to be unmuted.
- Remove Unmute All option. The option to unmute all participants at once has been removed since participants now always have to consent when the host unmutes them. By default, participants can unmute themselves. The host can now enable or disable the setting to allow participants to unmute themselves from the Security icon, which can also be found in the Participants panel.
New and enhanced meeting features
- Access meeting information when screensharing. Participants can now access the meeting information, such as meeting ID and password, when sharing their screen. This information can be accessed from the toolbar, under the More option.
- New ringtone for Waiting Room. The meeting host will hear a new chime when a participant has entered the Waiting Room.
5-13-20
Zoom announced a postponement of the password enforcement deadline from May 30 to a date to be determined. Read more.
5-11-20
Zoom released update: 5.0.2 (24046.0510) included enhanced privacy design in contact details and user profile page, an option to include log file in problem report and minor bug fixes.
5-7-20
Starting on May 30 (this date has been extended, see 5-13 note): all Zoom sessions using Rice accounts will require passwords. Starting today: all sessions by individuals with personal Zoom accounts will require passwords. See Zoom blog for more details.
5-4-20
Zoom released update: 5.0.1 (23502.0430) added support for setting to disable Personal Meeting ID (PMI).
4-27-20
Rice updating new default settings , effective May 1.
New Zoom release: 5.0.0 (23168.0427) https://zoom.us/support/download
5 Things to Know About Zoom 5.0
4-21-20
Zoom released update 4.6.12 (20613.0421) to re-enable clickable links.
4-17-20
Additional information on Zoom code-based vulnerabilities: https://dev.io/posts/zoomzoo/
4-16-20
4-15-20
Rice Thresher: Zoom bombings disrupt online classes
Updates from Zoom:
Upcoming Changes
4-14-20
4-13-20
Zoom enabled the “Require password to access shared cloud recordings” option over the weekend for all users. This option is now disabled by default but can be enabled by any user if they would like. If you recorded a video this morning or over the weekend, learn how to
disable the password requirement
.
4-9-20
Zoom directly addresses users’ security and privacy concerns through
weekly webinars
. To sign up, go to
Zoom Webinar Registration
.
4-8-20
4-7-20
Zoom released version 4.6.10 (20041.0404) adding a security button for meeting hosts. "The Security icon in the meeting controls allows the host or co-host of a meeting to enable or disable options during a meeting to secure the meeting and minimize disruption during the meeting." Read more on Zoom's Help Center:
In-meeting Security Options.
4-3-20
OIT updated guidance on
Zoom Meeting Security and Privacy
.
4-3-20
Online classrooms and testing disruptions continued. See Inside Higher Ed,
'Zoombies' Take Over Online Classrooms
.
4-3-20
Zoom released new version with important security updates.
3-26-20
Unwanted visitors in online classroom sessions reported. See Inside Higher Ed,
'Zoombombing' Attacks Disrupt Classes
.
QC-NESB