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COVID-19 Update - Online Security
Privacy and Security Concerns for Online Lessons
Isolation and social distancing measures due to Covid-19 has led to the physical closure of almost every dance studio in Australia.
These new (and continuously updated) Government constraints has forced many studios and coaches to explore other ways to continue their business.
It’s been a rather steep learning curve for many but overall, the dance industry has shown amazing courage in its ability to adapt to a seemingly impossible situation. We have seen many studios and coaches quickly transition group lessons, workshops and private lessons to various online platforms.
Whilst this is a tremendous positive move for everyone, in our haste to adapt so quickly we must also rapidly learn the privacy and security dangers of online sharing. This includes protecting the privacy of our competitors, coaches and studios, and respecting the DSA Member Protection Policy. By operating online, we need to understand the risks of malware infection and data security and most importantly we need to understand how to protect ourselves from unwanted online predators.
One of the most popular platforms currently being utilised for online lessons is Zoom. Using Zoom as an example, here is an extract from a BBC news article published on 27 March 2020… Coronavirus: Zoom is in everyone’s living room – how safe is it? By Jane Wakefield. Please click on the link to view the entire news story. This article also includes quotes from the Electonic Frontier Foundation.
How does this effect online dance classes?
For RTF's and coaches currently using Zoom or planning on adopting Zoom for their classes, one of the most alarming privacy concerns is what is known as "zoombombing".
So what is this zoombombing? Here is Wikipedia's definition: Zoombombing or Zoom-bombing refers to the unwanted intrusion of an individual in a video conference call, causing disruption. It became popular in 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to stay at home, and videoconferencing was used on a large scale by businesses, schools, and social groups.
There have been many reports in the media of uwanted trolls joining Zoom meetings and with a range of incidents including some even screen-sharing porn. This is of great concern to anyone running dance classes, and in particular those involving children. Many operators are unaware of these dangers and unintentionally exposing unnecessary risk.
How to protect against unwanted trolls from crashing your classes
There are a range of actions you can take to ensure the safety and privacy of everyone attending a dance class. These actions include locking Zoom calls, controlling Zoom screen sharing, setting a Zoom password for your class, and lastly you should always avoid publicly sharing a Zoom link on open social media platforms.
For specific instuctions on how set up these privacy settings, check this informative article on Gizmodo by Tegan Jones... How to Stop Trolls From Crashing Your Zoom Meetings.https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/03/zoom-meetings-security-how-to-stop-trolls/
The moral of the story…
- Ensure you take the time to research new software when considering online platforms for lessons or classes and make sure you read the fine print.
- You should also be aware of the security functions of the software and remember to double check your chosen security settings.
- Remember the DSA Member Protection Policy and all other DSA Rules & Policies includes all online and social media content.
- Be careful when sharing links on Facebook, don’t share something publicly on your page that was meant to remain private!
For more information please check the following Useful Links.
Australian Government StaySmartOnline
PC Magazine – The Best video Conferencing Software for 2020
Electronic Frontier Foundation - What You Should Know About Online Tools During the COVIC-10 Crisis. By Lindsay Oliver
BBC Article - Coronavirus: Zoom is in everyone’s living room – how safe is it? By Jane Wakefield
Gizmodo Article - How to Stop Trolls From Crashing Your Zoom Meetings. By Jane Wakefield
