Zoom Breach - 2020

Zoom is a videotelephony provider based out of San Jose, California. It is owned by Eric Yuan and became very popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.

What Was the Breach?

The breach was a leak of 500 million passwords and login credentials right at the peak of people turning to online platforms like Zoom. The issues began with easy-to-guess credentials for meetings across the platform. The issues expanded into link sharing, where people could break into confidential meetings, culminating in the theft of the login credentials of many customers.

How Did the Breach Occur?

The breach occurred when there were insignificant protection and verification protocols in place. Of course, any business just getting off the ground has a few chinks to work out, so many didn’t hold Zoom too responsible for the incident, especially since they were able to carry the brunt of the digital transition brought about by the pandemic.

When Did This Breach Occur?

This breach occurred in early 2020.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

The breach affected quite a few Zoom users in 2020. The stolen information didn’t stop people from flocking to Zoom when the pandemic forced everything to go digital. Many schools and remote workers were affected by the breach, but with few other options, they often stayed with Zoom as their provider.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

Hackers stole the username and passwords of more than 500 million users during the attack, but that is not all hackers accessed. They also accessed source code for the Zoom platform, specific trade secrets, and other sensitive information from within the company.