With the increase in teleconferences during the coronavirus epidemic, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Pennsylvania Attorney General have issued a warning about hacking and Zoom bombing.
In a Zoom bombing or video hacking scenario, uninvited parties disrupt conferences and online classrooms with threatening language, hateful images, or pornographic images.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady and PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro have teamed up through the Western Pennsylvania COVID-19 Task Force to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute hacking activities. Hackers can face charges including using a computer to commit a crime and fraud.
Those preparing for a teleconference should not make the meeting or classroom public. Screen sharing options can also be managed and the link to the platform should only be shared to those invited.
Anyone with information about hacking or Zoom bombing is asked to contact the FBI.
