In a security test of the 8 most popular video chatting software

The program «Cisco Webex» achieve full encryption of group conversations

FaceTime provides secure video calls with full encryption, sufficient for only 32 participants.

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A comparative test of security levels in the eight most popular group video chatting programs revealed that the "end-to-end" encryption protocol, which guarantees the highest levels of protection and security for calls, is fully used and on a large number of calls in only one of eight programs is the program Cisco's WebEx is used on a partial scale in four programs, while it is completely absent from three programs.

Only one program was classified as combining the complete absence of coding and the least secure of the eight programs, and that was the "Zoom" program.

The test was carried out by experts in information security affiliated with the "CSO" organization, and they published the test results on the organization's website csoonline.com this October. The analysis resulted in the division of programs in terms of using the total security protocol for the following categories:

Total use

The category that provides secure end-to-end encryption video calls even if the number of participants is large.

The test revealed that the Cisco WebEx program is the only one that meets the requirements of this level of security, as it can provide group video calls in which 100 people participate, secured with encryption from beginning to end, and the only remark in this program is that this function It does not work by default, as it must be turned on by the host party of the call.

This level of insurance is suitable for companies and entities that conduct sensitive video chats, require a high level of security, and are available to all program users, even subscribers to the free service.

Partial use

This category refers to programs that use the encryption protocol from beginning to end in bilateral conversations, or with limited numbers, and in this category it was noticed that the maximum number of participants in secure conversations at this level stops at four people, in the programs: "Signal" and "Wire." ”And“ WhatsApp ”, with the exception of“ Apple FaceTime ”.

Signal offers one-to-one video calls only, end-to-end protected, with end-to-end encryption for voice and text chats.

In turn, the WhatsApp application provides secure end-to-end encryption for video calls involving a maximum of four people.

On the contrary, the "Wire" program directs its services to institutions and companies only, and provides encrypted conferences from start to end that include four people in the case of video conferences, and 20 people in the case of audio conferences.

As for the "FaceTime" program from "the American company" Apple, it provides secure video calls with total encryption from beginning to end, sufficient for 32 participants only, but the problem is that it works on "Apple" devices with "iOS" only.

Total absence

This category includes programs that do not use end-to-end encryption technology, including the free open-source "Jitsi" program, which can be run on internal servers belonging to institutions and companies, and not through the public cloud of service providers such as Google and Microsoft. And Cisco.

Among the programs falling into this category: Microsoft Team, which is capable of accommodating hundreds or thousands of participants at one time.

Least secure

Finally, the experts classified the Zoom program in the “least secure” category, as it completely lacks encryption from beginning to end. In addition, the company’s management claimed that it operated this level of insurance, and then the analyzes found that it was not correct, which formed a technical scandal. The company was forced to apologize for that on October 14, saying that encryption from beginning to end will be available with free services, and paid for inspection and review within a short period, and perhaps early next year.

The program "Google is dead"

The program «GoogleMate» is the closest alternative to the functions of the program «Zoom», as it does not use the encryption protocol from beginning to end.

Google was very clear about this matter, although it employs some of the best developers and security engineers, but it introduced encryption from beginning to end with the Google Do program, which is a competitor or alternative to Apple's FaceTime program. Du provides end-to-end encryption for video calls with a maximum of 13 participants.