Reminder: (If You Use Zoom And Haven’t Done So Yet) Update to Zoom 5.0 before May 30th

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Last week we announced the need to upgrade to Zoom 5.0.  This is a follow-up reminder to please do so before May 30th.  If you’ve already completed this upgrade, there is nothing further to do. 

Terse:

If you have a GHC issued computer and use Zoom, please connect to VPN via Cisco AnyConnect to update Zoom before May 30th.  A script will run automatically for Windows users.  macOS users will need to open Terminal, Copy and paste (or carefully retype) the following command into Terminal and then press the Return key:

/opt/cisco/anyconnect/script/OnConnect_doit.sh

  • After May 30th, you will not be able to use Zoom without performing this update.
  • Faculty, if you wish,  wait until after spring semester finals are complete to perform this update, but please do so before May 30th.

Verbose:

On April 27th, Zoom announced their release of Zoom 5.0, which sets a new standard for video communications security.  On May 30th, Zoom will enable GCM encryption across their entire platform to provide increased protection for meeting data.  After May 30th, all older versions of Zoom clients will receive a forced upgrade when trying to join meetings.  If you don’t have local admin rights to install software on your computer, you will not be able to perform this normally routine upgrade, which will cause a disruption in your meeting connection until you perform this upgrade process. 

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How do I Update Zoom?

This process is fairly straightforward and should only take a few minutes.  Please complete this necessary upgrade between now and May 30th (Faculty, if you wish, wait until after spring semester finals are complete to performing this update, but please do so before May 30th).  Below are the Windows 10 and macOS instructions for upgrading Zoom (if needed, a few other updates such as Jabber and AnyConnect will occur). 

Windows

10 AnyConnect Update Instructions

*** Perform any time between now and May 30th. ***

  1. Connect to the VPNusing your current version of Cisco AnyConnect.
    2. A minimized command window will open automatically and execute a script that will check the version of key software installed on your device and update it, if necessary.  This may take 3 or 4 minutes to complete all the installs.

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macOS AnyConnect Update Instructions

*** Perform any time between now and May 30th. ***

  1. Connect to the VPNusing your current version of Cisco AnyConnect.
    2. Press the command (    ⌘) key and spacebar keys simultaneously to launch Spotlight.
    3. Type “terminal” and press return. This should launch the Terminal app.
    4. Copy and paste (or carefully retype) the following command into Terminal:

/opt/cisco/anyconnect/script/OnConnect_doit.sh

  1. Press enter. This launches an update script that will check the version of key software installed on your device and update it, if necessary.  

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Why wouldn’t I have local admin rights?

Many of you are aware that IT began removing local admin rights from our GHC issued computers a couple of weeks before we started teleworking.  This drastic change to a long-standing business practice was a direct result of recommendations from the Georgia Cybersecurity Board.  USG has asked that all institutions to complete this task by June 30th.  Most GHC computers running Windows received this change automatically via Active Directory Group Policy.  However, the process for GHC computers running macOS is currently a manual process performed by IT, so a good many of these computers still have local admin rights. 

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If you have any issues with this process, please contact IT by emailing rt@highlands.edu.  Thank you for your patience with performing this necessary upgrade.