India has banned the use of video-conferencing app Zoom for government remote meetings, the government said Thursday, in the latest warning about the platform’s security.
The app has become the global go-to service for everything from education to exercise classes as millions stay home because of lockdowns to combat COVID-19’s spread.
“This advisory states that the platform is not for use by government officers/officials for official purposes,” the Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement Thursday, referring to the guidelines it had issued Sunday.
“Zoom is not a safe platform,” the statement said.
The ministry also advised private users on how to avoid issues such as “Zoombombing” — when uninvited guests join the video call, often to harass users.
India’s cyber-security agency warned earlier this year of the app’s security vulnerabilities.
Last week Taiwan advised government agencies against using videoconferencing apps with security concerns, such as Zoom.
And Singapore on Tuesday allowed teachers to resume using Zoom after suspending it last week, when gatecrashers interrupted a class and made lewd comments.
Similar “Zoombombing” incidents have been reported in Indian classrooms, according to local media, while the New York school system has banned Zoom-based security concerns.
Prosecutors from several US states — including Connecticut, New York, and Florida — are meanwhile investigating the Silicon Valley-based company’s privacy and security practices.
The FBI has warned of Zoom sessions being hijacked.
Zoom has sought to make improvements to its application as security concerns mount.
According to creator Eric Yuan, the number of people taking part in Zoom meetings daily eclipsed 200 million in March, up from just 10 million at the end of last year.
The Indian government order came days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted a picture of himself chairing a Zoom video conference with senior ministry and military officials.
Related: Mac Zoom Web Server Allows for Remote Code Execution
Related: Keys Used to Encrypt Zoom Meetings Sent to China
Related: Vulnerability Gives Attackers Remote Access to Zoom Users’ Cameras
Related: Zoom Conferencing App Exposes Enterprises to Attacks
More from AFP
- Spain Needs More Transparency Over Pegasus: EU Lawmakers
- Huawei Has Replaced Thousands of US-Banned Parts With Chinese Versions: Founder
- Poland Breaks up Russian Spy Ring
- Facebook ‘Unlawfully’ Used Dutch Personal Data: Court
- White House Cybersecurity Strategy Stresses Software Safety
- Internet Access, Privacy ‘Essential for Freedom’: Proton Chief
- ‘Hackers’ Behind Air Raid Alerts Across Russia: Official
- Spies, Hackers, Informants: How China Snoops on the US
Latest News
- CISA, NSA Issue Guidance for IAM Administrators
- Analysis: SEC Cybersecurity Proposals and Biden’s National Cybersecurity Strategy
- Intel Boasts Attack Surface Reduction With New 13th Gen Core vPro Platform
- Cisco Patches High-Severity Vulnerabilities in IOS Software
- ‘Nexus’ Android Trojan Targets 450 Financial Applications
- Tackling the Challenge of Actionable Intelligence Through Context
- Dole Says Employee Information Compromised in Ransomware Attack
- Backslash Snags $8M Seed Financing for AppSec Tech
