Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

You know that Zoom is not the only video chat software, right?


Exactly, which makes it worse. Real bad actors will just switch meanwhile normal people get surveillance.


True, and I don't support Zooms decision. You said:

> Where is the virtual equivalent of that once zoom is not longer private?

What I meant by my comment is that there are good alternatives that are E2E and free, like FaceTime (ok you need an iPhone or Mac), WhatsApp, Signal etc. So people can just use that if they don't want to pay for Zoom (again, I don't think they're making the right decision either).


People will choose convenience over privacy when they can't see the threat. Zoom is convenient for video calls because it allows you to see all the people in the call on one screen, you can schedule meetings, the connection quality is good, it supports screen sharing and it's fully cross platform.

You already disqualified Facetime because realistically some of your friends and family have Android and Windows. WhatsApp connection quality is flaky, same with Skype. Does signal support group class? If it does maybe it could replace Zoom. Maybe. But all these options existed before lockdown and people still settled on Zoom because it's more convenient.

Either some massive scandal has to happen to make the public more privacy conscious or there needs to be e2e encryption by default, as a standard. With or without invisible state surveilled cameras shouldn't factor in to which dining table I buy.


> People will choose convenience over privacy when they can't see the threat.

Agree.

> WhatsApp connection quality is flaky

Disagree. Might be anecdotal, but at least in Europe, most my friends use WhatsApp for personal video calls and not Zoom.

Genrally agree with you that we need E2E as default (as we need SSL as a default).


>that are E2E and free, like FaceTime (ok you need an iPhone or Mac), WhatsApp, Signal etc. So people can just use that if they don't want to pay for Zoom (again, I don't think they're making the right decision either).

https://twitter.com/alexstamos/status/1268199863054811136 2) None of the major players offer E2E by default (Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, BlueJeans). WebEx has an E2E option for enterprise users only, and it requires you to run the PKI and won't work with outsiders.

Any E2E shipping in Zoom will be groundbreaking.


You're totatlly wrong! Cisco does offer E2EE even for free accounts... You can choose, if you want to use E2EE or not (via website).

Make a free account and test it.


I'm referring to personal use (i.e., friends and family) as to per the parent comment's argument.




Consider applying for YC's Winter 2026 batch! Applications are open till Nov 10

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: