Lockdown Your Zoom Sessions to Avoid Unwanted Activity
As a Zoom host, publicly sharing your Zoom link (e.g., on social media) can lead to privacy issues in your meeting or class including unauthorized screen sharing and malicious comments. Avoid unwanted activity in your meetings and classes by adjusting your Zoom settings beforehand. Adjusting your settings is also a good practice for private Zoom links as well, as this helps hosts manage the meeting or classroom more effectively.
| Description | No Security | Good Security | Better Security | Most Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Description Meeting open to the public and meeting link widely shared online | No Security x | Good Security | Better Security | Most Security |
Description Meeting has no waiting room and does not require a passcode to join | No Security x | Good Security | Better Security | Most Security |
Description Personal Zoom Meeting ID used openly and repeatedly | No Security x | Good Security | Better Security | Most Security |
Description Waiting room is turned on | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Multiple co-hosts assist with meeting management | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Removed attendees cannot re-join | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Meeting link posted online but not passcode | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Full meeting details (including passcode) shared directly with those who register or who have been specifically invited | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Do not allow removed participant to re-join the meeting | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Add multiple co-hosts to assist with meeting management | No Security | Good Security x | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Turn off the ability for attendees to join before the host | No Security | Good Security | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Require attendees to register for the meeting | No Security | Good Security | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description Turn off attendees' ability to share their screen, a video, or a file | No Security | Good Security | Better Security x | Most Security x |
Description For events where only TXST people are invited, require a TXST email address and NetID to join the meeting | No Security | Good Security | Better Security | Most Security x |
Description For wide-audience events who may be external to TXST, reserve a Zoom webinar (faculty and staff only) | No Security | Good Security | Better Security | Most Security x |
NOTES:
- When you share your meeting link or meeting password on public forums, anyone with the link can join your meeting.
- Avoid using your Personal Meeting ID (PMI) to host public events. Users can access your PMI, which is your personal virtual space, even after the meeting is over.
Step-by-step instructions
- Disable Participants' Screen Share Access (prevent unwanted or inappropriate sharing)
- Disable Join Before Host Setting (malicious users can't cause trouble before the host arrives)
- Enable and Add a Meeting Co-Host (assign others, like a teaching assistant, to help moderate)
- Disable Removed Participants or Panelists to Rejoin Setting (participants previously removed from host cannot return to meeting or class)
- See more tips to combat unwanted activity in your Zoom sessions.