Comparison of zoom and jitsi request

[Bret Busby]

On 17/8/23 16:38, Ralf Mardorf via ubuntu-users wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> it's funny that I see this thread about Zoom this morning. I hate it to
> get forced all the times to use crap such as Zoom.
> 
> Zoom vs something else sounds to me like choosing between pest and
> cholera. While providing less features, Jitsi suffers from CVEs, too.
> Without a doubt, Zoom is one of the worst, if not the worst, application
> in this area, which makes other applications that are less bad still not
> acceptable.
> 

I do not know the term "CVE's".

To quote an infamous Australian member of the feral parliament, "Please 
explain".

> This morning I received a phishing call. When asked about my computer, I
> didn't answer "yes", but instead asked why she wanted to know. Be that
> as it may, it is conceivable that I said the word “yes” in German, my
> native language, colloquially something like “yes, listen, this
> conversation is going nowhere, I’ll hang up now”. My analog phones don't
> show phone numbers, but the call was definitely from abroad. I kept the
> call short for a few seconds and gave no address or other information.
> But the fact that I once said “yes” and was already forced to attend
> webinars conducted via fine Zoom, or that the unemployment office forced
> me to disclose vast amounts of data via fine job listing platforms etc.,
> increases the risk that this "yes" on the phone lead to a washing
> machine being delivered to me once a month.
> 
> It's not a joke, things like this happen. Each time something like this
> happens, they talk about careless consumers. It never happened to me,
> but I wouldn't be surprised, if this happens to me, too.
> 
> One of the problems with Zoom is, that it's seemingly not for free as in
> beer to form working groups, but webinars are sometimes given by people
> who don't want to pay for it, hence the participants need to exchange
> phone numbers via Zoom to work in groups by telephone.
> 
> IOW I don't belong to the careless consumers, but we all get forced to
> participate in stupid things, such as meetings via Zoom.
> 
> Btw. the phishing call started with a woman claiming (in completely
> broken German) that my computer had been hacked. It's not, but even if
> it were, what's a concern about that? If my computer were ever actually
> hacked, I would have to restore the computer to the state it was in
> before it was hacked. All data that could be tapped has already been
> tapped from Zoom and job exchanges etc. anyway.
> A hacked computer shouldn't be the end of the world any more than light
> rain. To put it very simply, you should of course unplug backup drives
> before Zoom meetings or thunderstorm.
> 

As I would not answer any call on my cellphones, from a number that I do 
not recognise, or, respond to any email messages that tell me that my 
computer has been hacked and that they have evidence of me doing things 
that I have never done, which will be revealed if I do not give them 
bitten coins (I do not bite coins, and, would not use coins in horses' 
bits (a part of a bridle), I would not, if using video calling software, 
become involved in any call, where I do not know sufficiently, the caller.

> You can order up to 5 "Webcam-Sticker" for free as in beer:
> https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/service/publikationen/webcamsticker-karte-top-secret-96100
> 
> I wonder if the picture does show such a "Webcam-Sticker". If so, then
> perhaps it would be better to uninstall the driver.
> 

I do not have webcams facing anything that would be of interest - they 
are either closed (sliding thing), or, on a laptop that does not have a 
webcam slide, when not closed, the webcam faces the keyboard, Perhaps, 
some deranged people get thrills from looking at webcam captures of 
keyboards?

> In a nutshell: If possible don't use Zoom or anything else. If you are
> forced to participate in webinar or team meeting, you don't have a
> choice at all.
> 
> Regards,
> Ralf
> 
I have only used videocalling software, a couple of times, in the last 
ten-twenty years - it was before zoom existed, I think. My siblings 
apparently have weekly or otherwise fairly regular, online zoom 
meetings, and, whilst I have not yet been involved, with the time 
differences, and a number of other reasons, with what I had read, I am 
wondering about recommending them switching to jitsi, which I why I 
started the thread.

One of my brothers died, about ten years ago, from a nasty form of 
cancer, and, during his last couple of, or, few, months, I managed to 
engage in a Skype call with relatives visiting him at his house, and, 
that call involved my last contact with him, and, I think, the last time 
that I had visual contact with any of my siblings.

It is unlikely that I will be in the physical presence of any of my 
siblings or their descendants, again, and videocalling software can 
allow audio-visual communication with relatives who I might not get to 
see, or, to see again.

..
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
(UTC+0800)
..............