What is Zoombombing?

Zoombombing is a new form of trolling in which a meeting participant uses the screen sharing feature in Zoom to disrupt meetings and classes.

Default Security Settings

Effective August 17, 2020, the following security features will apply to all Zoom meetings scheduled by UAlbany faculty and students:

• All participants must login with their UAlbany Zoom account to join.

• All meetings will require a password.

• The Waiting Room is automatically enforced for guests and optional for UAlbany participants. Please note that guests (non-UAlbany participants) must login to their own Zoom account in order to join a UAlbany meeting.

• Participants cannot join a meeting before the host. 

Best Practices to Prevent Zoombombing

ITS is committed to providing you with the tools and services you need to successfully deliver your classes on-line. This includes a safe, protected, and inclusive on-line learning environment for our faculty and students. We changed Zoom global features for security purposes and to restrict bad actors from presenting content or taking over your screen, whiteboard and adding annotation.

• Screen Sharing for Meeting Hosts Only.

• Whiteboard is disabled.

• Annotation is disabled.

Class Management:

Faculty and Students: Please learn more about settings for classes.

• Using Zoom for Teaching

Meeting Management:

• Restrict Access to UAlbany Users Only

• Mute All And Unmute All Participants

• Waiting Room

  • Waiting Room Message

  • Waiting Room: Add or Remove Participants

• Lock Meeting

• Manage your Meeting Participants

• Set Passwords

• Disable File Sharing

• Disable Private Chat

• Security Options During a Zoom Meeting

If you are actively experiencing a Zoombombing Incident:

• Suspend Participant Activities in Zoom Meeting

Report a Zoombombing Incident:

Contact the ITS Service Desk via email or call 518-442-3700 with the following information:

• Meeting ID

• Meeting name/topic

• Class Meeting Date and Time

• How was the meeting shared? Through Blackboard?  Otherwise?

• Was the meeting recorded?

• Details of the Incident:

  • Time of the incident

  • Was this "bad actor" a student in your class or an uninvited person?

  • Were you aware of the activity when it was occurring?

  • Did you take any action in response?  If so what did you do?