Webex
Review date: 04/23/2020
Webex is a video call app mostly targeted to business users. It has beefed up it's free version since the pandemic hit, offering up to 100 participants per call and meetings as long as you want (before there was a 40 minute meeting limit). Webex offers the standard fare of video call app features – high quality video and audio, downloads on desktop or mobile app or access through a browser, screen sharing and recording, and the like. Webex is used by many healthcare businesses as it can be compliant with US medical privacy laws and Cisco as a company is known to be more security conscious than most. And hey, it sponsored Lady Gaga's One World: Together at Home special, so there's that.
What could happen if something goes wrong
Probably not too much. Cisco Webex seems to put a strong emphasis on security with its products. As a product that's used frequently by healthcare providers and can be HIPAA compliant, that is a good thing. Webex did have a bug in the past that allowed uninvited people to join password protected meetings, however it seems this bug was quickly fixed. The password requirement for free users is weaker than for business users, so if you're using the free version of WebEx, it's probably still wise to make your password something really long and complicated like "iMNotW3aringpAnyPanTsiNThisM33ting" or something like that.
Privacy
What is required to sign up?
Yes
Phone
No
Third party account
No
An email address is required to sign up for Webex. Users don't need to sign up for a Webex account to join a meeting.
What data does it collect?
Personal
Biometric
Social
How does it use this data?
How are your recordings handled?
Alerts when calls are being recorded?
Webex has an option that reminds call participants every 10 - 90 seconds that the call is being recorded. By default the tone is played every 20 seconds.
Does the platform say it is compliant with US medical privacy laws?
Webex can be HIPAA compliant. Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure the version of Webex they use meets all the requirements.
Links to privacy information
Can I control it?
Host controls
Is it easy to learn and use the features?
This "yes" is more a "kind of." Webex does have an extensive help page to help users learn to use its video calling tools. The pages are densely written and without many visual aids however. The help page is at https://help.webex.com
Security
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Webex uses encryption. Communications Webex Applications, Webex Room devices and the Cisco Webex Cloud occur over encrypted channels and end-to-end encryption is an option for Webex Meetings.
Strong password
Password requirements could be stronger for free users. Business users are required to create a passphrase with "at least 8 characters, at least one number, at least one lower case letter, at least one upper case letter, at least one special character." For free users, password requirements are only six characters minimum, with at least one number and one letter.
Security updates
Webex updates its mobile apps at least once a month.
Manages vulnerabilities
Webex parent company Cisco has a bug bounty program.
Privacy policy
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/legal/privacy-full.html
