| Setting | Location in Zoom | Effect Against Flooders | |---------|------------------|-------------------------| | | Settings → Schedule Meeting | Bots with only the meeting ID fail to join. | | Enable Waiting Room | Security → Waiting Room | Host approves each attendee; bots pile up outside. | | Disable "Join Before Host" | Settings → Schedule Meeting | No meeting exists to flood until host arrives. | | Only Authenticated Users | Security → Only authenticated users can join | Restricts to Zoom accounts (paid). Stops generic bot scripts. | | Mute All on Entry | Settings → In Meeting (Audio) | Bots cannot blast noise until unmuted. | | Limit Screen Share to Host Only | Settings → In Meeting (Basic) | Prevents bot video/gif bombs. |
The most dangerous category. An attacker joins a corporate earnings call or a confidential legal deposition with a flooder, then privately messages the host: "Pay 0.5 Bitcoin or I release the chat log showing your internal strategy discussion to your competitors." This is no longer a prank—it is organized cybercrime.
If a bot has already slipped in, you can remove them instantly: zoom bot flooder
Contrary to popular belief, not all flooder users are elite hackers. They fall into three rough categories.
Restrict these privileges exclusively to hosts and co-hosts. | Setting | Location in Zoom | Effect
The impact of a bot flood ranges from mild annoyance to severe operational and psychological distress. Operational Disruption
Limit what attendees can do the moment they enter the room. You can toggle these settings under the Security tab: Disable . Disable Chat (or set it to "Host Only"). Disable Rename Themselves . Disable Unmute Themselves . What to Do During an Active Attack | | Only Authenticated Users | Security →
A flooder’s dream is a meeting that starts before the host arrives. Disable this immediately.
As the arms race continues, new technologies are emerging to fight back.
Aims to crash the meeting, exhaust bandwidth, or derail the agenda. How Zoom Bot Flooders Work