“Zoombombing”: An Unexpected Exploitation
Maybe you’ve seen a shot of someone hacking into a mainframe in a movie or TV show, a triumphant feat. However, hackers often have far darker motives in the real world. Last year, hackers were able to get into various Ring security systems, threatening people in their homes. But what if this could happen through any computer, phone, or tablet, as long as you are running Zoom?
Unfortunately, it’s very real. Dubbed “Zoombombing,” this occurs when someone uninvited hacks into a Zoom meeting and shares their screen. This seems easy enough when we take into account the way that Zoom works with Meeting IDs and passwords. What is problematic about it, aside from the obvious disruption to whatever meeting is going on, is that most hackers are broadcasting explicit content such as racial slurs and shocking pornography.
It’s such a problem that the FBI had to issue a public warning about it, along with methods for preventing prospective attacks. These tips are helpful and very important to observe, but it’s also crucial to think about the things that Zoombombers promote when they choose to hack into a meeting.
Obviously, such behavior is reprehensible. People who are trying to learn about organic chemistry or art history get rudely interrupted with inappropriate content. But beyond the classroom, hackers can interrupt AA meetings that people need to continue improving their lives, or meetings in corporate settings to continue the well-being of a company. And imagine trying to participate in online church and being traumatized with photos of child abuse and pornography. Not to mention any of the early childhood education teachers that might choose to have a Zoom reunion with their preschoolers or kindergartners just to say hello. All of these people are potential targets.
But furthermore, especially with pornography, the way that the sex industry thrives is through viewership and adverstising. Zoombombers are thus promoting pornography and the sex industry with their vulgar interruptions.
The pornography industry, never missing an opportunity, has been exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic as of late, and that industry in general has many links to human trafficking. It doesn’t matter if people are watching these videos for pleasure or if they are looking them up to pull a “funny” (heavy air quotes here!) joke on their classmates or on strangers. The reality is that the action still supports a market that is known to sexually exploit women and children through manipulation and abuse.
So what can be done about this?
Well, our voice goes a long way. Spreading awareness and ways to prevent it are key.
Zoom has also recently increased security for its users. Further, there are other options so that people can still have “face time” and important meetings.
It seems difficult to find hope and stability in these times, but we are able to overcome these uncomfortable and scary circumstances together.
About the Author
Michaela (Mikee) Parangalan is a Filipino midwestern gal pursuing English on the East Coast. She believes in the power of reading, aspiring to help others recognize the value of narratives in equipping us to better understand the world and become better people. In her free time she enjoys rock climbing, visiting art museums, or discovering whatever her next adventure might be.