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Is Using a Virtual Machine for Zoom Safer?
I’m scheduled to use Zoom. I use a Virtual Machine, and can always duplicate it.
Would using Zoom through a Virtual Machine make it any safer than using Zoom directly off of my macOS itself?
I plan to duplicate my Virtual Machine, for this.
Note:
FTP wouldn’t be enabled, just DHCP and ICMP would be (to get the connection established).
MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.15
babowa Said:
”In order to avoid two Data volumes in Catalina, you need to erase the disk before reinstalling (or delete the one that contains almost no data). Every time you reinstall, it will automatically create another Data volume.“
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Thank you babowa - Well that’s the thing: I remember deleting the volumes and all there was, was the drive and no volumes.
Take a look at the top-right of my above screenshot - it shows 6 volumes. (Five show now, and after I called Apple Support).
The Apple Rep looked at their own Mac and said that they saw 5 volumes as well. We were looking into that - and concluded with assumption, that the other 3 are for data - perhaps always hidden. I’ve probably seen it in the past, but it doesn’t look familiar, as it’s something that doesn’t normally stand out.
Take a Look at the Screenshot:
Why would there be 6 volumes, rather than two? Note: After the deletion, now it shows 5 volumes.
John Galt Said:
“If you think your concern is unjustified, read I found a Terminal window open but I hadn't launched the program.”
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So, just go about what I brought up here?: us20web.zoom.us Zoom Site Error Popup Message Reads: “Safari cannot open the page”
On that site, I say:
“Blame my employer. Not me! - But here’s the catch - I’ll back up the Mac, then install all the junk. Once it’s over with, it’s restored from the TMB. But no worries - I don’t format all that often.”
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So, just changing passwords would be fine enough. Good point.
Does Using a Virtual Machine to run Zoom Enhance Security?
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So, going back to this post, I followed through with the macOS use (not VM Use), and a few things iffy came up after TMB restoration....
What I Did:
Two "Macintosh HD - Data" Volumes:
Thing is, after the restoration of my Mac, I saw two Macintosh HD - Data Volumes. So, I called Apple Support - they told me it is OK to delete one that had nothing on it. So, I did, and it boots fine. Having done so, all that resides are two Volumes:
Screenshot:
Why were Two Volumes Named "Macintosh HD - Data" Shown after TMB Restoration?
In order to avoid two Data volumes in Catalina, you need to erase the disk before reinstalling (or delete the one that contains almost no data). Every time you reinstall, it will automatically create another Data volume.
BobThrFisherman Said:
”That is a lot of trouble to go to. Just make sure the meeting is not an open meeting and it requires a password to join.”
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They Don’t Ask for a Password:
Rather than being required to use a password, they provide me with the Link to join.
Thing is, I don’t want anyone seeing my password, if I was to enter it.
If you set up the meeting correctly you can specify that a password is required and the meeting has an id that you invite participants to join. It is a secure connection. Any password you enter is encrypted.
John Gault Said:
"I would. I don't use Zoom because it has a long way to go earning my trust, but if it couldn't be avoided I would definitely run it in a VM so I could nuke the whole VM when I'm finished with it."
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Then I will do that - thank you John Gault
As an alternative to a VM, I cloned my system drive to an external HDD and booted from that. After booting, I unmounted the internal HDD as an extra measure of safety before I installed Zoom on the external HDD.
I did this only under duress from my wife, who wanted to join a certain Zoom conference. And I only agreed to it because I had just replaced her iMac and I had her old iMac available for this purpose. The entire machine and the external HDD are both getting wiped after she's done with her Zoom meeting.
And Zoom still has to fall under suspicion for reasons that are well documented elsewhere. In addition, when I was operating from the external HDD I was logged in a regular user account (not an admin account) ... and Zoom installed itself anyway, without any prompt for admin permission. Just saying to be extremely careful with this app.
So, I'd conclude that...
Yes, using a Virtual Machine to run Zoom enhances security.
No extra partition-creations and no-restorations presumed to be needed.
If you think your concern is unjustified, read I found a Terminal window open but I hadn't launched the program.
So, just go about what I brought up here?: us20web.zoom.us Zoom Site Error Popup Message Reads: “Safari cannot open the page”
I replied in that other Discussion. See if it works.
That is a lot of trouble to go to. Just make sure the meeting is not an open meeting and it requires a password to join.
I would. I don't use Zoom because it has a long way to go earning my trust, but if it couldn't be avoided I would definitely run it in a VM so I could nuke the whole VM when I'm finished with it.
Does Using a Virtual Machine to run Zoom Enhance Security?
