Hackers:Why you should cover your webcam
Have you heard how popular tech owners usually cover their cameras. Mark Zuckerberg is known for that. I watched a cyber security course where the instructor hacked into seven laptop cameras in the class before the end of the day.
The computers in questions were brought by the students and were not supplied by the training facility. After this incident, the student decided to tape their laptop cameras
Here are the reasons why you should cover your cameras
Do you remember the email Cassidy Wolf received from her hacker who said, ‘If you don’t do as I say, Ill upload every photo I have of you’?
Cassidy was confused because it was only two of her photos that hung on her bedroom wall. It was late for her when she realized that the hacker had been spying on her for over a year through her webcam.
The hacker got all the information he needed because Cassidy usually keep her laptop open on her bedroom floor. She would play music whilst studying, changing and going back and forth in the shower. The hacker watched everything.
She must have opened an email with a link, enabling him to place malicious software on her laptop. If she clicked on the link, this would have granted him full access to her computer.
The hacker was able to trace the keystrokes on Cassidy’s keyboard. This way, he learnt her passwords, saw sites she was accessing and accessed her webcam 24/7
The hacker posted picture of Cassidy undressing using various Facebook accounts, including her younger sister’s account.
It was later discovered that the hacker was someone from her high school; somebody whom she passed in the hallway every day. Despite the hacker being caught, Cassidy has to live with this trauma forever. The sound of every mail ping or notification will continue to make her heart beat fast.
This incident happened before she was Miss Teen USA. If this could happen to Cassidy, it could happen to any one of us. Somebody may be watching you right now. So, be proactive and be careful.
I use a real cover that I can slide back and forth for when I have web calls. You can also use a sticker. You can never be too careful.
Desktop
Although, someone who uses desktop, this sounds like a non- issue. Our baby products like the monitors are the easiest to hack. There was a hacker who accessed children monitor and even assessed their microphone. He yelled creepy things to children regularly. If you must use a monitor, then get the one that doesn’t use WIFI. Before Wifi was a thing, people usually listen to the neighbor baby monitor over the cordless phones. But now, we are really void of any privacy.
How about phone cameras?
Yes, it is easy to hack that too. Cover all open cameras you have on laptops and phones, especially company properties. Never assume they are off. Rather, assume that someone is always watching. Tyra Banks was being watched in shower because hacker got in her cell
Does your camera light turn on if you are being hacked?
No, it doesn’t. Just because our webcam light isn’t turned on doesn’t mean your webcam hasn’t been hacked. Sometimes, hackers can disable your light. Keep in mind too that its sometimes possible to turn off your webcam light settings. Although, it has been argued that the newer version of Mac system (those produced from 2020) has a physical connection between the camera and little green light. It would be difficult to hack that. Once they try, there would be a green light turned on. How hackers pick their targets
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