Platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom have become essential for every “digital-first” organisation. They connect teams, enable decisions and keep business moving. But as recent vulnerabilities in Teams have shown, convenience doesn’t always mean security – and they highlight why verified presence in digital communication is becoming essential for building real trust online.
Researchers found flaws, that allowed hackers to impersonate executives, manipulate messages and even fake calls – turning trusted communication into an opportunity for fraud.
The problem: Trust is the new attack surface
The research behind the Microsoft Teams flaws uncovered several ways attackers could exploit users’ confidence in what they saw on screen:
- Invisible Message Editing: Attackers could edit messages without triggering an “Edited” label, making subtle changes invisible.
- Spoofed Notifications: By changing display names, attackers could send messages appearing to come from a trusted company leader, prompting urgent actions such as wire transfers or data sharing.
- Altering Display Names via Conversation Topics in Private Chats: Malicious guests could alter display names in private chats, misleading others about the context of the conversation.
- Forged Caller Identity in Calls: Attackers could make video or voice calls appear to come from trusted contacts.
The result? A trusted collaboration tool became a potential gateway for social engineering and fraud. Not because encryption failed, but because human trust was compromised.
What this means for organisations
Even organisations with strong network and access controls can be vulnerable when communication tools are exploited. Attackers don’t just target systems – they target belief.
- Internal communication isn’t automatically safe. Attackers rely on that assumption.
- Patching software fixes vulnerabilities, but not trust. Businesses need layered defences that include verification, awareness and auditability.
- The cost of a misdirected message or falsified instruction can be enormous – financial loss, reputational harm and regulatory exposure.
If your work involves contracts, payments or identity-sensitive information, your communication channels are now part of your risk surface.
The missing piece: Verified presence in digital communication
At Videosign, we believe true security isn’t just technical, it’s human.
Verified presence in digital communication means being able to prove who’s really in the room, who approved what and when it happened. It’s about building trust through verification, not assumption.
Here’s how Videosign ensures safe, secure business communication:
End-to-end identity verification
Videosign supports identity verification through trusted integration partners. Organisations can add biometric or bank-based verification when the use case calls for higher assurance, for example during onboarding or high-value contracting.
Immutable video evidence of signing and witnessing
Videosign records and stores visual evidence of meetings and sign-offs, creating an auditable, tamper-resistant record of each interaction. This reduces ambiguity around who said what and when, and supports compliance requirements under eIDAS and GDPR.
A general collaboration tool may host a call, but it often lacks a robust record that ties identity, intent and outcome together.
Secure contracting workflows, not just chat threads
Videosign is designed for secure document workflows, not casual communication. Every signature, approval and ID check is tied to a verified identity, timestamp and audit trail.
It’s a controlled environment for high-value or regulated activities, unlike generic collaboration tools where decisions can happen in transient chat messages.
Why this matters for your business
Whether you’re in financial services, legal advice or any industry handling sensitive transactions, communication isn’t just about convenience – it’s about proof.
Every contract, approval and verification relies on identity. If that identity can be faked, so can the outcome.
With Videosign, communication and contracting happen in an environment designed for trust. You can prove who participated, what was agreed and when it occurred. That’s the foundation of secure business – not just messages that appear to come from the right person.
Key takeaways for decision-makers
- Audit your collaboration stack: Don’t just look for patches – check who can impersonate whom, what can be edited and what audit trails exist.
- Strengthen verification workflows: Any process based on human trust (approvals, contracts, payments) should include identity validation.
- Adopt verified presence in digital communication: Ensure communication and decisions are tied to identity and immutable evidence.
- Remember: A platform is only as secure as the trust you place in it.
Conclusion
The vulnerabilities in Microsoft Teams remind us that even the biggest platforms can be exploited – not because of bad software, but because human trust can be deceived.
Patching systems is straightforward. Patching trust requires a new mindset.
With Videosign, you’re not just providing a communication tool; you’re establishing a secure contracting ecosystem built on verified identities and recorded interactions.
In business communication, trust isn’t optional – it’s fundamental. And with Videosign, it’s verified.
