| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to privacy and security breaches on Zoom has happened again within the same organization. The incident involved thousands of personal Zoom videos being left viewable and searchable on the internet due to a lack of proper security measures [98569]. This incident highlighted the vulnerabilities in Zoom's platform, leading to increased scrutiny and concerns about user privacy and data security.
(b) The software failure incident related to privacy and security breaches on Zoom has also occurred at multiple organizations or with their products and services. The incident raised concerns about the security of video conferencing platforms in general, as hackers and trolls targeted Zoom users and exposed sensitive information [98569]. Additionally, the incident prompted Congress to inquire about data collection and recording rules, indicating a broader impact on the industry beyond just Zoom. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be attributed to the security vulnerabilities and flaws in Zoom's platform. The incident involved thousands of personal Zoom videos being left viewable and searchable on the internet due to a lack of proper security measures. The videos were saved without passwords onto online storage clouds, making them easily accessible to anyone [98569].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase can be linked to the misuse of Zoom's platform by users. Although Zoom does not record video calls by default, participants have the option to record and save them without the consent of all participants. This led to private Zoom videos, including sensitive information like business financial details and therapy sessions, being exposed online without the knowledge of the participants [98569]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system:
- The software failure incident related to the Zoom videos being left viewable and searchable by anyone on the internet was primarily due to factors originating from within the system. The incident occurred because thousands of private Zoom video call videos were saved without passwords and posted for viewing and download on online storage clouds [98569].
- Zoom's default settings allowing call hosts to record video calls without the consent of participants contributed to the incident [98569].
- The incident was exacerbated by the fact that the videos were saved using an identical naming convention, making them easily searchable online and available to watch or download [98569].
(b) outside_system:
- The incident also had contributing factors originating from outside the system, such as hackers and trolls targeting Zoom users due to the increased usage of the platform during the coronavirus pandemic [98569].
- A former NSA hacker found flaws in the Zoom app that allowed hackers to hijack users' webcams and microphones, indicating external threats to the system's security [98569].
- The incident led to lawsuits being filed against Zoom by users alleging breaches in privacy, investigations by the New York Attorney General and the FBI, and scrutiny from Congress, all of which are external factors impacting the software failure incident [98569]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions in this case involves the exposure of thousands of personal Zoom videos due to a flaw in the platform's security measures. The videos were saved without passwords onto online storage clouds, making them viewable and searchable by anyone on the internet [98569].
(b) The software failure incident related to human actions includes the decision by call hosts to record Zoom video calls and save them without the consent of participants. This action led to the exposure of private information, such as business financial details, therapy sessions, and even nudity, to the public [98569]. Additionally, the article mentions that Zoom CEO Eric Yuan acknowledged that the platform was being used in unexpected ways, creating new security challenges that the company was working to fix [98569]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The article mentions that a former NSA hacker found two new flaws in the Zoom app that allowed hackers to hijack users' webcam and microphone, indicating potential vulnerabilities in the software that could be exploited by hackers [Article 98569].
- It was previously revealed that platform bugs in Zoom allowed hackers to steal Windows passwords and compromise security on Macs, suggesting weaknesses in the software that could be exploited by malicious actors [Article 98569].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The incident of thousands of personal Zoom videos being left viewable and searchable on the internet was primarily a software failure. The issue arose from videos being saved without passwords and posted for viewing and download on online storage clouds, indicating a flaw in the software's security measures [Article 98569].
- Zoom's platform being used in unexpected ways, leading to new security challenges, also points to potential software-related failures in addressing and adapting to the increased usage and diverse user scenarios [Article 98569]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious, non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Zoom platform can be categorized as malicious. The incident involved a privacy breach where thousands of personal Zoom videos, including sensitive information like company financial data, therapy sessions, and even nudity, were left viewable and searchable by anyone on the internet [98569]. Additionally, a security expert found that private Zoom video call videos had been saved without passwords and posted for viewing and download on online storage clouds, indicating a deliberate act to expose private information [98569].
(b) The software failure incident can also be considered non-malicious to some extent. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan mentioned that the platform was being used with unexpected frequency and in ways the company hadn't intended, leading to new security challenges that they were working to fix [98569]. This suggests that the failure was partly due to the rapid increase in platform usage and unforeseen security vulnerabilities rather than a deliberate attempt to harm the system. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions, accidental_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident related to the Zoom videos being left viewable and searchable on the internet was primarily due to poor decisions made by Zoom in terms of security measures and default settings. The incident occurred because Zoom allowed video recordings to be saved without passwords onto separate online storage spaces, making them easily accessible to anyone. Additionally, Zoom's default settings allowed call hosts to record meetings without the explicit consent of participants, leading to the exposure of sensitive information [98569].
(b) The incident also involved accidental decisions or unintended consequences, as Zoom CEO Eric Yuan mentioned that the platform was being used in unexpected ways that the company had not originally intended, creating new security challenges that they were working to fix. This unintentional usage of the platform contributed to the exposure of private Zoom videos and the security vulnerabilities that were exploited by hackers [98569]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence can be seen in the case of the Zoom video call platform where thousands of personal Zoom videos were left viewable and searchable by anyone on the internet due to security vulnerabilities. The incident involved videos containing sensitive information like company financial info, therapy sessions, school children classes, and even nudity being exposed to the public [Article 98569].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors can be observed in the case of Zoom where the increase in usage during the coronavirus pandemic led to increased scrutiny of the platform's security measures. The platform was being used in unexpected ways, creating new security challenges that the company had not originally anticipated, leading to privacy concerns and security issues [Article 98569]. |
| Duration |
permanent |
(a) The software failure incident in the articles can be categorized as a permanent failure. This is evident from the fact that thousands of personal Zoom videos were left viewable and searchable by anyone on the internet due to a lack of proper security measures and privacy controls [98569]. Additionally, the incident led to increased scrutiny of Zoom's security measures, indicating a fundamental flaw in the platform's design and implementation that allowed for the exposure of sensitive information to the public. The incident was not a one-time occurrence but rather a systemic issue that persisted until it was discovered and addressed. |
| Behaviour |
crash, omission, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a crash. This is evident from the fact that thousands of personal Zoom videos were left viewable and searchable by anyone on the internet, indicating a failure of the system to maintain its state and perform its intended functions properly [Article 98569].
(b) omission: The incident can also be classified as an omission. This is because the system omitted to protect the privacy of users' videos by allowing them to be saved without passwords and posted for viewing and download on online storage clouds, leading to the exposure of sensitive information [Article 98569].
(c) timing: There is no specific indication in the article that the software failure incident was related to timing issues.
(d) value: The incident does not align with a failure due to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) byzantine: The incident does not align with a byzantine failure where the system behaves erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident can be described as a severe breach of security and privacy protocols, leading to the exposure of sensitive personal and business information to unauthorized individuals [Article 98569]. |