Can Zoom look at your screen?

Can Zoom Look at Your Screen

Worried that Zoom might be spying on everything you do? Let’s clear things up and show you exactly what Zoom can and can’t see when it comes to your screen.

What Zoom Can Access

Screen Sharing

When you choose to share your screen during a Zoom meeting, Zoom can see everything on that screen. You can decide to share your entire desktop or just a specific window or application. This means anything you display—documents, browser tabs, or presentations—will be visible to everyone in the meeting.

Recording Sessions

If the meeting host starts a recording, everything shared on your screen while screen sharing is active will be captured in the recording. This includes any actions you take within the shared window or application.

What Zoom Can’t Access

Background Activities

Zoom doesn’t have the ability to monitor or view what you’re doing outside of the Zoom application. This means activities in other apps, browser tabs not being shared, or anything else on your computer remains private unless you choose to share it.

Keystrokes and Personal Files

Zoom cannot track your keystrokes or access your personal files unless you explicitly share your screen or specific documents. Your private files and information stay secure unless you decide to show them during a meeting.

Privacy and Security Tips

• Be Selective with Screen Sharing: Only share the windows or applications necessary for the meeting to keep the rest of your screen private.
• Check Permissions: Ensure Zoom only has access to your camera and microphone when needed. You can adjust these settings in your device’s privacy preferences.
• Stay Updated: Regularly update Zoom to benefit from the latest security features and protections.

Additional Resources

Boost your understanding of online tools and secure your interview preparations with these DesignGurus.io courses:

• Grokking the System Design Interview here
• Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions here

Helpful Blogs

Dive deeper into best practices and enhance your technical skills by visiting DesignGurus.io's blog:

• Essential Software Design Principles You Should Know Before the Interview
• Mastering the FAANG Interview: The Ultimate Guide for Software Engineers

Stay informed and keep your virtual meetings secure with these easy tips and resources!