Videoconferencing tools: which are the most secure?
Videoconferencing tools can prove very useful in both professional and domestic settings, as they allow several users to take part in ‘conferences’ at the same time. The most popular applications include Zoom, used by thousands of people during lockdown to keep in touch with their nearest and dearest.
Recent studies have revealed significant vulnerabilities in this program’s security however; issues range from classic data theft, to uninvited guests crashing chats and videos ending up in unprotected Chinese databases. Among the huge range of options to be found on the web, there are several valid alternatives for making online calls, outlined below.
Jitsi, the open source app
The first videoconferencing tool deserving our attention is the open source Jitsi. This program is available via the web as an app for iOS and Android devices. There are two versions, but the most reliable is the one you can install on your own company servers.
The main feature of Jitsi is that the rooms are created when the first participant logs in and destroyed as soon as the last participant leaves the conference. This ensures that no trace of users’ contributions or chats will remain after the conference.
Cisco Webex chosen by large institutions
In the United States (where videoconferences were already widely used by businesses before the Covid-9 pandemic), one of the most popular programs is Cisco Webex. The high level of security it offers during business calls is provided by its end-to-end cryptography, which prevents the servers hosting it from recording any type of data.
Microsoft Teams, AI and personalisation
The well-known Richmond software house also offers a very attractive videoconferencing tool. Use of its Microsoft Teams is widespread among the business community, mainly due to the high level of personalisation of virtual meeting rooms it provides. Furthermore, moderation of conference rooms and flagging of inappropriate behaviour is managed automatically by artificial intelligence.
FaceTime: Apple users’ favourite
One versatile and easy to use app for professional or personal calls is FaceTime. It allows videoconferences to be held using end-to-end cryptography, via users’ Apple ID. Some data may be recorded anonymously on Apple servers, but nothing can be traced to a specific user and information from chats cannot be breached.
Google Meet and by-default cryptography
The Mountain View colossus offers a tool for professional videoconferencing, based on by-default cryptography. Google Meet encrypts the data of users taking part in conversations and also any recordings saved on Google Drive. This takes place in full respect of security regulations IETF, DTLS and SRTP.
Wire: respecting GDPR
The only European app on our list is Wire. This program for calls uses end-to-end cryptography which is always active and conforms fully to GDPR. An attractive characteristic is that voice calls use the same method of codification (so they cannot be intercepted), while maintaining high quality audio.
Those mentioned above are the videoconferencing tools which have shown the greatest regard for users’ security and privacy; they are also excellent solutions for companies looking for programs that allow them to organise meetings online, without fear of data leaks or intrusions by unauthorised individuals.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith
