Zoom To Provide End-To-End Encryption To Free Users

Taking a U-turn, US-based video conferencing company Zoom has agreed to provide end-to-end encryption to all its users including free or basic users. On Wednesday, the company made it clear that it will roll out the security to all its users on the platform, which remained unavailable to those using the application for free.

The trials for the new encryption will be implemented as a beta to users in the beginning of July. However, it comes with certain conditions. According to Zoom’s blog, the E2E security will be made available to free or basic users only when they provide additional information through a one-time process of verifying their account with a phone number.

Previously, Zoom did not provide end-to-end encryption to its free or basic users for security reasons and said that in case of misuse of the app, law enforcement bodies might not be able to obtain data from those video calls or meetings. Zoom currently offers 256-bit GCM encryption which itself is safe and secure and cannot be hacked. However, the data exchanged over the call can be read.

With this new encryption, both the users, free and paid will be secured by GCM encryption. However, it is optional for users to use encryption or not. Moreover, the traditional PSTN phone lines or SIP/H.323 hardware conference meetings will not be a possibility in the future with the new encryption which would also secure the data exchanged in the meeting.

Earlier, since the lockdown was implemented due to the coronavirus, Zoom became the most downloaded application but became a soft target for hacking. Several users have also reportedly raised concerns regarding Zoom’s security. In the midst of all this, the Indian government also came up with guidelines to use the application securely.