'Zoom-bombing': FBI warns some teleconferences, online classrooms vulnerable to hackers
As teleconferences gain popularity during COVID-19, learn the risks and how to avoid security threats. Learn the FBI’s tips for staying secure online, amid Zoom hacker allegations during the pandemic.
Hackers disrupted a Zoom conference between Columbine High School teachers and parents on Tuesday with threats of a "2020 Columbine remake," according to Fox's Denver affiliate.
Columbine teachers were updating parents on e-learning procedures amid coronavirus when bad actors started showing images of Nazi soldiers and people being beheaded, KDVR reported.
One hacker shouted, "Going to shoot your kid in the 2020 Columbine remake!" during the call.
CORONAVIRUS-DRIVE ZOOM'S PRIVACY QUESTIONED AS 'ZOOMBOMBING' ESCALATES
One parent of a ninth-grade student told the outlet that her "youngest son was in the background and he got terrified. He got sick to his stomach."
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.
"I can confirm that we are investigating a case involving a ZOOM call that occurred on August 18, 2020. During the event some of the attendees began playing loud music, using vulgar language, and showing disturbing images," Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Mike Taplin.
He added that "even though the vast majority of these types of threats and actions are done to get attention," officers take "every school threat seriously and investigate every case to the fullest extent."
ZOOM SUED FOR ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO DISCLOSE SECURITY, PRIVACY FLAWS
Tammy Schiff, chief communications officer with Jeffco Public Schools, said the incident "does not in any way suggest a breach or compromise to the security" Columbine High School has in place for its virtual learning systems.
"It’s unfortunate that these ‘bad actors’ took such heinous advantage of what was intended to be an opportunity for family engagement around the start of school details for the Columbine High School community," Schiff said, according to KDVR.
'ZOOM-BOMBING': FBI WARNS SOME TELECONFERENCES, ONLINE CLASSROOMS VULNERABLE TO HACKERS
Zoom has previously come under fire for security vulnerabilities that have allowed hackers to disrupt meetings — an act called "Zoombombing" — sometimes with threatening or inappropriate pictures and messages.
The video-conferencing app has since made a number of security updates to its systems. It is unclear at this time how the hackers accessed the Columbine High School parent-teacher conference.
