We’ve all seen movies about hackers breaking into people’s phones and computers to access their cameras. Webcam spying isn't Hollywood fiction, it happens everyday. You may be thinking, “Who would want to break into my boring life?” Think about where and when you and your family are using a smartphone or computer. Now imagine someone being able to view what you are doing in the privacy of your own home. Or worse yet, spying on your children. Frightening, to say the least. This blatant violation of privacy is more common then we would like to believe.
The United States' National Security Agency intelligence-gathering operation has “turned our nation's Internet and telecommunications companies into collection partners by installing filters in their facilities, serving them with secret court orders, building back doors into their software and acquiring keys to break their encryption.”
Any low level hacker can easily access electronic devices. Remote Administration Tools (RAT) are software or applications that allow a remote user to control a system as if they were accessing it physically. Although they have many legal uses, "RAT" software is usually associated with illegal or malicious activity.
According CNBC, a company “launched a tool last year that lets users access publicly available webcams all over the world. Recently, the company added freeze-framed images from those webcams.” Making it easy for an average person to access a variety of webcams worldwide.
If it is an external webcam you can just unplug it. If not, there are a number of ways you can disable your camera depending upon your computer or phone. But it isn’t easy and you can’t use your camera when you want to video chat or take photos or video. You can also use antivirus software in conjunction with a malware tool. But hackers are always finding ways around antivirus software and new virus are created every day. You will need to be diligent in keeping your software updated.
A simple solution would be to just cover it up. Be careful with tape or something that can leave a gooey residue on your camera lens. There are a variety of inexpensive commercial options you can find. You can search for Webcam Covers or Sliding Webcam Covers. If you use your webcam/camera frequently, the sliding webcam cover will be a more convenient option.
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