Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Boris sparks security concerns after revealing Zoom ID for Cabinet meeting

Boris sparks security concerns after revealing Zoom ID for Cabinet meeting

Boris Johnson raised security concerns on Tuesday when he tweeted a picture of a virtual cabinet meeting but did not remove the meeting ID number.

The prime minister, who is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, joined his top team for their ‘first-ever’ digital Cabinet’ on video conferencing platform Zoom this morning.

He later posted a picture with government ministers – including Dominic Raab, Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg – reminding the public to ‘stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives’.

However, people on Twitter immediately noticed that the Tory leader had left the Zoom meeting ID number in the top left corner of the screenshot, as well as the usernames of some ministers taking part.



Speculation was rife that the public would be able to dial into the next meeting or contact ministers personally, with people trying out different passwords. Downing Street has insisted the Cabinet’s online gatherings are secure and the meeting ID was password protected.

However, according to one cybersecurity expert, the prime minister’s tweet showing meeting details broke a key rule about security when using such technology. Jonathan Knudsen, senior security strategist at Synopsys, has warned those using tools such as Zoom must ‘be careful about sharing the meeting information’.

He said: ‘Video conferencing helps people stay connected by being able to speak to each other, see each other, and share text and files. ‘Like any other technology, however, video conferencing has security risks that must be considered.

No matter who you are, publishing information to the world must be done carefully. ‘Boris Johnson’s Twitter post reveals a Zoom meeting ID and what appears to be one or two personal IDs that might correspond to email addresses.

‘In the worst-case scenario, the meeting ID will be reused, the meeting is not protected by a password, and an eavesdropper is able to join.

Likewise, Mr Johnson’s colleagues might get unsolicited and unwanted email. ‘Before posting anything online, stop and think. In the best-case scenario, this screenshot was reviewed and determined to contain no sensitive information.’ Richard Bejtlich, principal security strategist at Corelight has also advised that Zoom users treat their Zoom meeting IDs as sensitive and not share them on social media.

He said: ‘Meeting owners should also set unique passwords for meetings, to prevent unauthorised access by those who obtain or guess meeting IDs.’ It comes after concerns were raised over the security of Zoom when the Ministry of Defence banned staff from using it.

A Downing Street spokesman said new IDs were being generated each time the software was used and No 10. is ‘following all necessary security procedures’. He added: ‘I am happy to say with confidence we were satisfied it was secure’.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
×