Since the coronavirus pandemic began, videoconferencing for remote working, learning, and social interaction has taken center stage, and so have companies that provide the service. Zoom went viral over the last few weeks as it ascended into household name status but later took a hit as privacy issues surfaced.
In a message this week, CEO Eric Yuan laid out the company's 90-day plan to focus the company 100 percent on security and privacy and to engage top experts to help. One of those experts is a former Facebook chief security officer, Alex Stamos, who joined Cheddar to discuss the changes the company is making.
"The goal of Zoom right now is to find ways to increase privacy for all of their meetings and provide options for users who have really strong security requirements," said Stamos, citing the many high profile Zoom meetings that have occurred over the last few weeks — including cabinet meetings held by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The company has taken major steps, such as hiring outside firms to simulate hackers to study how people are breaking into chats and meetings or, as it is now known, 'Zoom-bombing.' The videoconferencing firm is also working towards deploying end-to-end encryption for its users so that chats would become protected against would-be "bombers," but doing that is "a really complicated thing, especially with Zoom's scale," according to Stamos.
However, Zoom announced on Thursday that it acquired the company Keybase to be a vital part of reaching that encryption goal.
The company's shift towards focusing on security has not fallen on deaf ears, as the New York City Department of Education lifted its ban on using the platform for remote teaching. While the company continues to strive for a more secure video-chatting experience, Stamos assured Cheddar that already "a bunch of bugs have been found and fixed."
Orangetheory Fitness is redefining the future of workouts with smarter tech, strength-based programming, and community-driven studios built for what’s next.
Spain's government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros or $75 million for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals. The consumer rights ministry announced the fine on Monday. The ministry stated that many listings lacked proper license numbers or included incorrect information. The move is part of Spain's ongoing efforts to regulate short-term rental companies amid a housing affordability crisis especially in popular urban areas. The ministry ordered Airbnb in May to remove around 65,000 listings for similar violations. The government's consumer rights minister emphasized the impact on families struggling with housing. Airbnb said it plans to challenge the fine in court.
Roomba maker iRobot has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but says that it doesn’t expect any disruptions to devices as the more than 30-year-old company is taken private under a restructuring process. iRobot said that it is being acquired by Picea through a court-supervised process. Picea is the company's primary contract manufacturer. The Bedford, Massachusetts-based anticipates completing the prepackaged chapter 11 process by February.
Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime has charged a government minister and three others with abuse of position and falsifying of documents related to a luxury real estate project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The charges came on Monday. The investigation centers on a controversy over a a bombed-out military complex in central Belgrade that was a protected cultural heritage zone but that is facing redevelopment as a luxury compound by a company linked to Kushner. The $500 million proposal to build a high-rise hotel, offices and shops at the site has met fierce opposition from experts at home and abroad. Selakovic and others allegedly illegally lifted the protection status for the site by falsifying documentation.
