Basic Zoom Questions

[jparker402]

I will be needing to use Zoom for several meetings. I thought I had it set up and did use it successfully twice. Today I went looking for help, and what I saw on YouTube and the Zoom site didn't appear to match what I had loaded. So (perhaps stupidly), I deleted "my" Zoom to start all over. Went to Applications on my MBA and behold! No "straight" Zoom app! Zoom for Safari as close as I saw; no Zoom.us. Where am I suppose to go and what app am I looking for to do basic Zoom conferencing? Why isn't Zoom.us in the MBA Apps? Does Apple not endorse it? More questions likely to follow once I find out what I need to download and from where.

 

[KaliYoni]

If I'm recalling this correctly, Apple does not allow Zoom in the macOS App Store because it does not respect Apple's Mac software security standards. For example, Zoom's one-click installation bypasses many of the standard dialogue boxes. Consequently, Zoom's macOS software has to be obtained from Zoom's website.

Zoom does have a properly approved iOS app, however. If you are willing to use Zoom on an iPad or iPhone (or probably on a M1 Mac), you can get Zoom in the usual way from the iOS App Store.

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Edited to add:

Apple has pushed a silent Mac update to remove hidden Zoom web server | TechCrunch

Apple has released a silent update for Mac users removing a vulnerable component in Zoom, the popular video conferencing app, which allowed websites to

techcrunch.com

 

[benshive]

Just download the Zoom client from their site and sign in to your Zoom account

Download Center for Zoom Apps and Plugins | Zoom

Download Zoom apps, plugins, and add-ons for mobile devices, desktop, web browsers, and operating systems. Available for Mac, PC, Android, Chrome, and Firefox.

zoom.us

 

[jparker402]

Just download the Zoom client from their site and sign in to your Zoom account

Download Center for Zoom Apps and Plugins | Zoom

Download Zoom apps, plugins, and add-ons for mobile devices, desktop, web browsers, and operating systems. Available for Mac, PC, Android, Chrome, and Firefox.

zoom.us

Sorry but I don't understand the Zoom client reference. And sign in to your account? I erased my original Zoom app, so wouldn't I have to create a new one?

 

[jparker402]

If I'm recalling this correctly, Apple does not allow Zoom in the macOS App Store because it does not respect Apple's Mac software security standards. For example, Zoom's one-click installation bypasses many of the standard dialogue boxes. Consequently, Zoom's macOS software has to be obtained from Zoom's website.

Zoom does have a properly approved iOS app, however. If you are willing to use Zoom on an iPad or iPhone (or probably on a M1 Mac), you can get Zoom in the usual way from the iOS App Store.

I have an iPhone 8 and a MacBook Air. I was thinking I might have Zoom on both. Does this mean I have to download Zoom on each device separately? And have two accounts? If it is simpler to just have one, guess I would rather have it on the MacBook.

 

[KaliYoni]

Just to make sure we're clear, macOS and iOS are two different operating systems. Your iPhone uses iOS. Your MBA uses macOS. This means that unless you have the newest MBA with the M1 processor, your phone and your laptop use different versions of Zoom. You should be able to log onto Zoom using the same account credentials no matter what device you are using. And don't forget, especially if you aren't very technical, Apple believes the macOS version of Zoom has some security flaws. That's why you can't download Zoom from the macOS App Store.

(Note that I don't own a M1 Mac so I can't say for sure if the iOS version of Zoom will run on one...if this doesn't make any sense to you, you can ignore the M1 MBA part of the statement above.)

Does this mean I have to download Zoom on each device separately? And have two accounts?

So: Yes to the first and no to the second. But if you can use Zoom on your iPhone, it may be best to not put Zoom back onto your MBA.

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Edited to add:

Is Zoom videoconferencing safe to use? - The Mac Security Blog

A lot of people are using Zoom to communicate lately. Unfortunately, the service has recently been found to have had some security and privacy issues. Here is what you should know before setting up and participating in Zoom meetings.

www.intego.com

 

[jparker402]

Just to make sure we're clear, macOS and iOS are two different operating systems. Your iPhone uses iOS. Your MBA uses macOS. This means that unless you have the newest MBA with the M1 processor, your phone and your laptop use different versions of Zoom. You should be able to log onto Zoom using the same account credentials no matter what device you are using. And don't forget, especially if you aren't very technical, Apple believes the macOS version of Zoom has some security flaws. That's why you can't download Zoom from the macOS App Store.

(Note that I don't own a M1 Mac so I can't say for sure if the iOS version of Zoom will run on one...if this doesn't make any sense to you, you can ignore the M1 MBA part of the statement above.)



So: Yes to the first and no to the second. But if you can use Zoom on your iPhone, it may be best to not put Zoom back onto your MBA.

Thank you! I hadn't realized the implications of the two different systems. Afraid I had been thinking of it similarly to getting email on both devices.

My wife's old high school class is trying to set up a Zoom reunion. The person who told us is not any more Zoom savvy then I am (which is virtually nil). I think that the MBA would be a more physically stable platform than my iPhone, Plus I would like to try to record the reunion if it goes off. Do not know if the iPhone would be able to handle that. Could run up to two hours from what I was told.

 

[KaliYoni]

If you haven't already solved your problem, it turns out that you can participate in Zoom meetings through a Mac's browser. There's no need to put Zoom's software on your computer.

Just click on the hyperlink for joining a meeting in the meeting's registration confirmation email. Zoom might try to download an installer after the browser opens. If the download completes and launches, just quit the installer program. Don't install Zoom. Now look at the browser window that opened when you clicked on the meeting's link. If an option for Use Browser (or something similar, I don't recall the exact wording) hasn't appeared, refresh the page.

The main thing to remember is to not let Zoom's installer run. If you can cancel the download, great. Otherwise just put the installer into the Trash after Quitting it.

 

[jparker402]

If you haven't already solved your problem, it turns out that you can participate in Zoom meetings through a Mac's browser. There's no need to put Zoom's software on your computer.

Just click on the hyperlink for joining a meeting in the meeting's registration confirmation email. Zoom might try to download an installer after the browser opens. If the download completes and launches, just quit the installer program. Don't install Zoom. Now look at the browser window that opened when you clicked on the meeting's link. If an option for Use Browser (or something similar, I don't recall the exact wording) hasn't appeared, refresh the page.

The main thing to remember is to not let Zoom's installer run. If you can cancel the download, great. Otherwise just put the installer into the Trash after Quitting it.

I believe I have installed Zoom on my computer at this point. Why do you say not to let the Zoomer installer run? And why put it in the trash? Is it because of the security standards thing you mentioned earlier?

 

[KaliYoni]

Is it because of the security standards thing you mentioned earlier?

Yes. Zoom was designed as an enterprise product. This means users would typically rely on professional tech staff to handle installations, configuration, and maintenance. So even if Zoom's software and network did not have a history of terrible privacy and security design decisions–and who knows what else is buried in its code or what goes on in its data centers–it's difficult for most home users to have enough knowledge of Zoom and macOS to minimize the risks of running Zoom.

That's why I think it's best for most people, including me, to use the browser-based Zoom on Macs. Then I don't have to worry about what the Zoom application has put on my computer nor worry about keeping the Zoom application up to date. I attend a meeting and when the meeting ends, I simply quit my browser. Done.