Who’s watching you?

By | September 19, 2013

Did you know that software exists that can turn on your web cam without your knowledge or consent…and it can do so without the web cam light illuminated? In other words your web cam may be turned on and you would not know it.

The same is true of the built-in microphone (generally laptops).

Here’s a low-tech solution for web cam hacks, courtesy of PC World and the NSA.

Tape over the webcam

Integrated webcams are great for video chats, but they’re also excellent tools for hackers to spy on users. And you would never know that you were being watched: Although the webcam indicator light is supposed to switch on when the camera activates, hackers have found ways to disable the light in certain laptop models.

According to the NSA, a simple, low-tech solution is to tape over your webcam—with black tape, naturally. If you’re worried that the sticky residue might damage the webcam, use tape to secure a small piece of paper over the lens.

9 thoughts on “Who’s watching you?

  1. Muriel Schlecht

    Thanks for the heads up. “Peeping Toms” and scumbags rights protected more than yours and mine.

    Reply
  2. Doreen

    We were warned about that on the Australian TV News the other day. A young girl was being watched in her bedroom. She was then emailed and said they would tell her parents some lie. The wise girl told her mother who immediately turned off her computer and reported it to the police.
    That is the first thing I thought of doing – taping over the camera on my laptop. My Dell desktop has a cover that slides across, Dell must be wise to this sort of thing.

    Reply
  3. Lary

    When will they get a software for us to use like Mission Impossible and burn their computer up as soon as they start their illegal activities?

    Reply
  4. juvy

    On a desktop you can just turn the camera towards the ceiling when not in use? Easy enough to pull out the microphone too…….
    but what to do about the laptop microphone?

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      Microphones can be disabled in Control Panel/Sounds/Audio/Playback

      Reply
  5. Sandy

    Thanks for the tip!! I just covered mine with a small square from a dark address label logo. It can be easily pulled off when you’re ready to use the camera.

    Reply
  6. Jade

    What about the built-in microphone? Is there any solution to keeping hackers from activating that? Being listened in on without one’s knowledge is just as intrusive as being watched!

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      You can go into your audio settings===>Playback and disable the microphone.

      Reply

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