Zoom, install etc

[AleisterCrowley]

I'm currently staying at my mum's
She needs Zoom set up on her old Dell desktop and/or HP tablet
Is it straightforward? Any handy hints?
No camera on desktop so will need webcam - some on Amazon for c £25
Any security risks? Says it needs network connection to install so worried it's harvesting data and sending to China...
Is there a way to install securely?
Thanks
Sorry bit terse but typing on small Fire tablet

[johnhemming]

This is zoom's comment about China
https://blog.zoom.us/improving-our-poli ... aboration/

Zoom does have an executable. I have not tried running zoom from a web interface so I cannot comment on that. I have got a paid for zoom account for hosting things. My experience of the various systems for online meeting including having written some low level code in this area is that zoom is quite good and is the only paid account I have.

[xeny]

Any security risks? Says it needs network connection to install so worried it's harvesting data and sending to China...
Is there a way to install securely?

Given a video chat app needs a network connection to do anything useful, being concerned it needs one during install seems an odd thing to mention?

[cinelli]

There are some good tutorials about Zoom on YouTube. For instance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTSJ0YDoF7o

covers installation and running. You can run Zoom from pretty well any device, phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. You can download the software free of charge but then the length of your meeting is limited to 40 minutes.

Cinelli

[UncleEbenezer]

Zoom is indeed not an app for the privacy-focussed user.

Interesting that you're getting with the latest Trump trend of Blame China for Everything. The app on your 'puter or phone is precisely where you could install a real spy - c.f. Pegasus, or the Aussie spyware law.

[AleisterCrowley]

Any security risks? Says it needs network connection to install so worried it's harvesting data and sending to China...
Is there a way to install securely?

Given a video chat app needs a network connection to do anything useful, being concerned it needs one during install seems an odd thing to mention?

It's the camera that needs a connection to install - obviously Zoom needs one!
I have tried to install Zoom in my mum's old HP slate tablet but I get a not supported message
I am no good with Android being used to iOS - I can't find any obvious way to update if required

[AleisterCrowley]

Zoom is indeed not an app for the privacy-focussed user.

Interesting that you're getting with the latest Trump trend of Blame China for Everything. The app on your 'puter or phone is precisely where you could install a real spy - c.f. Pegasus, or the Aussie spyware law.

Fairly tongue in cheek, but I have read several articles in technical journals detailing the massive effort the Chinese gov puts into online espionage and surveillance
Obviously in this case a non state actor is the worry- harvesting login details etc, although my mum doesn't do online banking

[mc2fool]

I have tried to install Zoom in my mum's old HP slate tablet but I get a not supported message
I am no good with Android being used to iOS - I can't find any obvious way to update if required

Well, usually, assuming you have a WiFi connection, Android will pop up a notification if an update is available, but if not (or if it's been dismissed) you can try going to Settings and look under there for About or System. (I'll bet you've already tried that, eh? ). Of course there may be no further update for her hardware.

I take it the tablet doesn't meet Zoom's requirements ... https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201179966-System-requirements-for-iOS-iPadOS-and-Android

[AleisterCrowley]

Yes, did look and it's Android 4.4.2
No obvious update button
It's an HP Slate 10

Edit: found a check status option and it says it's up to date