Zoom Bombing

What is a Zoom Bombing?

• When an unwelcome guest joins a class session that they are not registered for
• May have malicious intent

What should I do in advance?

• Create a response plan
• Communicate the plan to students verbally and in writing
• Share and follow best practices

Example of a Response Plan

• Immediately close down the Zoom meeting
• Post a Canvas Announcement to explain your plan to students
• By default, posting a Canvas Announcement also sends students an email

How to Re-secure the meeting

• Re-secure the meeting on the Gather Class Event
• Select the first icon on the Class event and then select ”Edit”

• In the fourth row of the “Edit Event” window select the third button “Resecure"

Next Steps in a Response Plan 

• Alert Faculty Engagement and Academic Affairs of the event via DCE_AcademicAffairs@fas.harvard.edu

• If appropriate, report to HUPD [Harvard University Police Department]

• You may choose to continue class in the re-secured meeting

• You may wish to check in with students and offer them resources:

  • A Guide on Responding to Online Abuse, Harassment, and Intimidation

  • Office of Student Affairs

  • Harvard Extension School Crimson Folder

Best Practices

• Explore the Harvard Extension School Crimson Folder sections on productive ways to be responsive to students
• At the start of class, we recommend that Course Staff direct students to rename themselves in-meeting to a name that is identifiable to the registered class list or that is known by the Course Staff.  [See "renaming" image below]
• Particularly, we recommend requesting identifiable names if a participant is displaying a device name and their camera is off.
• Never share the direct Zoom Link to your meeting with anyone
• If you have a Guest Speaker, create a Breakthrough link for them to join the Class meeting or contact our Web Conference team for assistance creating a Breakthrough link.
• Consider using a Waiting Room and choose when and which participants may join the meeting. You can turn the Waiting Room on ahead of time in the “Edit Event” window of Gather, or in-meeting under “Host Tools”. 
• You can reach out to Web Conference team for assistance turning on the Waiting Room for your class.
  

Renaming

What is DCE doing to protect us from potential Zoom Bombings?

• Gather, a tool developed in DCE, adds a layer of security and the option to “Resecure” a meeting
• Across all meetings, Participant Screenshare is off by default
• Across all meetings, File Upload is not available
• Training is available for Course Staff
• Contact the Web Conference team for a Consultation