Malicious software can turn on your webcam without you knowing.

Webcam Spying – Reality or a Sci-Fi

The online environment is known for different types of danger lurking. Hackers using malware to access our data or personal information is something we are used to. But having your webcam used against you is something we’ve seen only in movies. Many debate on whether or not this is possible in the real world. Photograph of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg covering his webcam, sheds a light on this matter in a more serious way.

Malicious software that can turn on your webcam without you knowing it is a well-known fact. The device you are using on a daily basis, could be using you just as well. The motivation behind this privacy misuse varies, from pranks to serious extortions. Even a regular computer user, can become victim of cyber criminals. You are not aware of the reports how your webcam content can be monetized in the hands of criminals.

Who Can Be Using Webcams Against You?

The first idea that comes to mind is cyber-criminals. This isn’t far from the truth since most of the malware designed to access webcams is developed by hackers. Their primary goal is to gain access to information like your credit card number or other personal information of value. Also, they can be using it to take photos or make videos of you in an indisposed situation and blackmail you.

On the other hand, there are people who buy malware on the dark web to gain access to your device. Here is where criminals divide into different types. They can either use gathered images to their personal enjoyment or sell them to others interested in this content.

There where observations that Malware on your computer doesn’t necessarily come from the internet, but from a computer repair shop. A crime situation, reported by police of position misuse, when people who worked in services installed apps to user’s PCs in order to get their private photos.

Maybe the last suspect on your list is the government. The possibility is always stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. The suspicion was confirmed by Edward Snowden. As an ex-NSA contractor, he unveiled that NSA is actually using certain types of phones and computers to access our privacy. It’s all shrouded with security and country’s safety talk, but who guarantees it can’t be used falsely?

How is Your Webcam Used by Others?

As mentioned before, the main spying technique is the malware. But, how does it actually work? The malware can be activated automatically or remotely, depending on the way it was designed. Either way, webcam’s activation is not necessarily obvious. Everyone knows that webcams have built-in LED that indicates it’s working, but with the device out of your control this doesn’t have to be the situation.

Right now, there are dozens of malware that can easily surpass camera’s design and make it work, while leaving the LED light off. This way you are not aware you’re being watched at all. This can last for months, before the first signs of misuse are noticed.

Most of the webcams, either integrated or external, include a small mic which can also be abused. Let’s say you’re working in a financial company, and using your personal laptop at work. Just imagine the magnitude of impact your company could experience if the classified information has fallen into wrong hands.

The Best Prevention

Knowing all the ways you can be attacked by, the only reasonable thing to do is to take some precautions. You’ve probably seen people putting black tape over their laptop cameras. No matter how funny it looks, it works better than nothing. The downside to this method is that you’ll have to use your webcam at some point. In addition, the tape leaves a sticky residue over the camera’s lens. The users with an external camera, just unplug it when you’re not using it.

When you carry a potential hazard wherever you go, you have to approach different protection. Some laptop makers include options in their BIOS where you can easily disable your webcam completely. If your computer doesn’t allow this, Windows does for sure.

If you don’t want to mess with the “manual” ways of protection, there’s a new solution developed by ShieldApps. The new Identity Theft Preventer is a software dedicated to privacy protection with options of webcam and microphone control. Once your camera goes live, your permission will be required. No matter if malware can bypass the LED indicator or not, once the signal is sent to the camera’s lens you’ll have to approve it. This way you can be sure you’re the one in control of your privacy.

Privacy breaches are a constant threat, no matter how unimportant you think you are, cyber-criminals will find the way to use you. Next time you see someone with a piece of black tape over their webcam, think about how well are you protected. The thing of fiction is now our reality and it’s up to us to control it and stay away from the dangers. Almost every user nowadays owns a webcam, meaning the number of potential victims is rising.