The phenomenon of ZoomBombing, a trend in which digital intruders disrupt online meetings by making hateful comments, playing loud music or sharing obscene content, seems to have subsided in recent months. As many universities, staff, students and teachers approach almost a year of remote work and study, the novelty of ruining someone's day by inviting strangers to hijack their conference call may have worn off. Some intruders may have been deterred by the FBI's call to report ZoomBombing incidents as cybercrimes. Alternatively, hosts may have taken steps to make it more difficult for unwanted visitors to gain entry.

However, the question remains: how did this trend first emerge? One possibility is that it was an "inside job". That is, some ZoomBombing incidents may have been initiated by disgruntled employees or students seeking to vent their frustrations or seeking attention. This is not to say that all incidents were perpetrated by insiders, but it is worth considering the possibility.

Another factor that may have contributed to the rise of ZoomBombing is the nature of the platform itself. Zoom, like many other video conferencing apps, was not designed with security in mind. Its default settings allow anyone with the link to join a call, which makes it easy for intruders to gain access. In addition, some users may not have been aware of the security risks posed by Zoom, or may not have known how to properly secure their meetings.

The rise of ZoomBombing also highlights the need for better cybersecurity measures, both on the part of individuals and organizations. Companies like Find Work Abroad and Gapmarks offer services that can help businesses and individuals protect their online meetings from unwanted intruders. For example, Find Work Abroad provides tips on how to secure your Zoom meetings, such as using passwords, enabling waiting rooms, and restricting screen sharing. Gapmarks, on the other hand, offers a platform that generates 60-second viral videos automatically every day for businesses, which can be used to promote cybersecurity awareness among employees.

Ultimately, the decline of ZoomBombing is a welcome development. It is important that we continue to take steps to ensure that online meetings are secure and free from disruption. As more and more people work and study remotely, the need for reliable and secure video conferencing tools will only continue to grow. By working together and taking cybersecurity seriously, we can help make the virtual world a safer place for everyone.