Zoom Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To ensure that you are following best practice around Zoom's security settings, we strongly encourage the following:

• Always using a Passcode or Waiting Room when booking all of your meetings;
• Use a unique ID by selecting "Generate Automatically" when scheduling all of your meetings;
• Turn off "Join before host". If it is enabled, that means all of your scheduled meetings will become available to anyone, at any time;
• Try to avoid using your Personal Meeting ID (PMI). This will help prevent anyone from joining your meeting at the wrong time; and
• From our Learning Futures team, please download (PDF): Teaching via Zoom best practice guide

This new release does not affect webinars. However, it will affect any new meetings booked after the 27th September 2020 and previously scheduled meetings. This includes:

• Personal Meeting ID (PMI);
• Scheduled meetings;
• Instant meetings;
• Zoom Rooms; and
• Re-occurring meetings.

Passcodes are the 'codes' for entering a Zoom meeting, shared with your invited meeting participants along with the meeting ID for access. “Passwords” will refer to your Zoom account login credentials. Best practice security guidelines tell users to never share passwords.

The Waiting Room feature allows the host to control when a participant joins the meeting by placing participants in a Waiting Room prior to joining the session. It is recommended that you review your Waiting Room selections and options for ‘join before host’  and which participants to place in the Waiting Room. For a detailed overview of how to whitelist domains to bypass the Waiting Room and other Waiting Room features, please see this support article.

No, nothing will change and your settings will remain the same for your current selection. Your meetings will not be affected by this release.

• For Passcodes: Logon to the Zoom web portal (https://uws.zoom.us) and go into settings to enable a Passcode or Waiting Room. If choosing to enable Passcodes on your account, please see this detailed support article for further information.  IMPORTANT: If you add Passcodes to an existing meeting, calendar invites will need to be resent to include the Passcode.

• For Waiting Rooms: If you are choosing to enable Waiting Rooms on your account, please see this support article for further information.

If choosing to enable Waiting Rooms at the meeting level, you can either start the meeting and use in meeting security controls to enable or if Waiting Rooms have been enabled on your account, edit the individual meeting to add a Waiting Room.

Users can log into the web portal (https://uws.zoom.us), and in the “Meetings” tab see a list of meetings that have been scheduled without a Passcode or Waiting Room. This is indicated with a red warning icon.

Windows and Mac Computers

• Within the Zoom client/app, select your profile icon on the top right of the screen (usually with your initials on the icon).
• Select 'Help', then 'About Zoom'. See below.

iOS and Android Devices

• Within the Zoom app, select 'Settings' on the bottom-right of the screen.
• Select 'About'.

For security reasons and to ensure seamless user experience, you should always make sure that you have downloaded the latest version of the app. To update, please:

• go to your Zoom app (when not in a meeting), click the top-right icon with your initials and go to Check for Updates;
• download directly from Zoom’s Download Centre https://uws.zoom.us/download; or
• visit your relevant app store (iOS and Android), Zoom app.

Zoom has been responding to security concerns with its demand rising.  The company believes it is setting the new standard for video communications for all with their new advanced encryption and security settings. Western Sydney University is confident with Zoom's security offerings, however, as with most applications, it is also highly dependent on how diligent the user is.  Find out more about Zoom and how to better protect yourself from our ITDS Cyber Security Team.

• ITDS Cyber Security

Yes, there is. Our Learning Futures Team offers support for teaching, learning and assessment. Here are some links to the best practise guides below. Check out the Learning Futures website for more information.

• For Instructors: Teaching via Zoom best practice guide (PDF download)
• For Students: Important Tips for Online Learning Guide (PDF download)
• General advice on Zoom Meetings and Webinars (PDF Download)

WSU has other options for video conferencing as well that may better suit your needs. For example:

• Rule of Thumb: Microsoft Teams is a great alternative for smaller teams, sharing files, scratch space, chat function and workshops. Zoom should be used for everything else;
• Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (vUWS) is specifically designed for classes and tutorials and is a great alternative for teaching; and
• Phone, email and messaging is still a very effective way to communicate with your colleagues and with students.

• Zoom Rooms: Dedicated, easy-to-use meeting rooms (on-campus only) equipped for groups to Zoom together.
• Personal Zoom: Available for all staff and students to Zoom from their own device. A web browser can be accessed if it is needed: https://uws.zoom.us/

Kids in the background? Is chaos happening behind you whilst in the middle of a lecture?

From the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to your own creative background, you can simply change it in Zoom. Learn more below.

• How to Set A Virtual Background in Zoom (KB0016254)
• Zoom's Guide to a Virtual Background