Programs for making video calls have grown considerably in recent times. More and more users communicate over the Internet by this means. We have at our disposal a wide range of possibilities, although it should be noted that there are also risks. In this article we are going to talk about it. We are going to explain what are the most common attacks when using video calling applications and what to do to protect ourselves.
Most common attacks against video calling programs
As we say, when we make a video call we can suffer very different security attacks. They can steal our data and personal information, attack devices, listen to the conversation … In short, they can compromise our privacy and security.
There are many types of attacks on the network, as well as different methods that we can take into account to protect ourselves. Hence the importance of knowing at all times what the threats are in order to defend ourselves adequately.
Bombing
One of the main attacks is what is known as bombing. It consists in that there is an unwanted intrusion in a conversation, generally when there is a group of participants. That user who accesses should not do so and can interrupt communication, send Spam and, ultimately, alter the conversation.
This is something that has affected many platforms for making video calls. They tend to take advantage of vulnerabilities and thus enter. An example is Zoom boming, an attack of this type that affects the popular Zoom platform.
Malicious links
Malicious links often appear in chats while users are making a video call. They are links that reach compromised sites that could distribute malware or carry out some type of information theft.
This problem can affect any type of service that has a chat where users can send text. It is also present in instant messaging applications.
Stolen meeting links
Many platforms of this type have links that they send to users to join a meeting. In this way, it is guaranteed that only those who have an invitation will be able to enter and communicate.
However, it could happen that those links to access are stolen. Either because they are exposed on the Internet and can access them, or because they carry out some type of attack and are made with that invitation.
Theft of administrator privileges
A similar problem is the theft of administrator privileges . In a meeting by videoconference, the normal thing is that there is a user who is the one who manages who enters or leaves, who modifies different parameters such as name, etc.
Administrator theft can be serious if we are in a meeting with many users and in which important business matters could be discussed, for example. An intruder could decide who comes in and also control all aspects of that conversation.
Fake programs
A classic is to find programs that have been maliciously modified and are therefore false. They simply have the mission to install harmful add-ons on our system, adware and make the computer malfunction.
Even such a fake program could steal users’ information and passwords . A major issue that can expose the victim’s privacy beyond just affecting the video call.
Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are also very frequent. In this case, we receive emails or messages indicating that there is something wrong with the account we use to make video calls. They tell us that we must update the password or make a change.
The problem is that this is actually sent to us by an attacker. It seeks to carry out a strategy to gain the trust of the victim and that he falls on the hook to steal the credentials and access codes to the account and thus be able to control the video call.
How to avoid security problems when using video calls
We have seen some of the main attacks that we can suffer when we make a video call and use applications of this type. Now we are going to show some essential tips to avoid making mistakes and avoid problems that affect security.
Always download from trusted sources
One of the bases for making video calls with total security is to always download from reliable sources . This means going to the official page of the software or using official stores. It is true that sometimes we can come across third-party sites that offer similar programs, but they are not always reliable.
Have the application updated
It is also very important that the application is properly updated . Vulnerabilities can emerge that are exploited by hackers to carry out their attacks. Thanks to patches and updates we can avoid problems. This must also be applied to the system itself and any device we use.
Use strong passwords
Of course you cannot miss the advice to use keys that are powerful . It is essential that they are random, that they have letters (upper and lower case), numbers and other special symbols. It has to be unique to avoid the domino effect in case another service is affected by a leak.
Configure security aspects in a conversation
When we start a group to make video calls with other users, the programs generally allow us to configure some aspects related to security and privacy . We must always keep this in mind and make conversations as secure as possible.
Therefore, by following these tips we can make video calls in complete safety. Always avoiding problems that could compromise our data, but also performance. It is also a priority objective that the quality of the signal is adequate.
