Your computer’s built-in webcam is easy to take for granted if you don’t use if very often. But just because you don’t take advantage of this amazing piece of technology — as a woman in Toronto was recently shocked to learn — doesn’t mean it isn’t being used.
Chelsea Clark’s night watching Netflix with her boyfriend didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary — until pictures of the couple from that evening were sent to her Facebook account by the hacker who’d taken them from her webcam.
Clark described this as “a terrifying notion. It was a really bizarre thing to receive those messages and it really took a second to be like, ‘OH MY GOD, that’s what this means, that’s the implication of receiving this message is someone was just watching us. We obviously had no idea it was taking place at the moment, but retroactively it was like a really, really deeply creepy feeling. It was very unnerving. I mean it does feel like there’s just someone in your home with you.”
Hackread reported previously that hackers use Remote Access Trojan (RAT) to gain access to unsuspecting users’ computers and record their activity, including webcam sessions. In a separate incident, a Canadian woman who had taken control of users’ webcams was arrested for spying.
This RAT malware is easily obtained by young and novice hackers through those with more experience. Called “ratters” because of the name of the malware they most often use, these hackers take control of a victim’s computer and electronic devices and then attack, according to Hackread.
Toronto Police are investigating Clark’s case. An easy safeguard everyone can use to prevent their candid moments from being seen by prying eyes is to attach a small piece of any opaque tape, band aid, or other material over the webcam.
In fact, if you haven’t yet, maybe that should be the next thing you do.
Claire Bernish writes for theAntiMedia.org. Anti-Media Radio airs weeknights at 11pm Eastern/8pm Pacific. If you spot a typo, email [email protected].
Claire Bernish joined Anti-Media as an independent journalist in May of 2015. Her topics of interest include social justice, police brutality, exposing the truth behind propaganda, and general government accountability. Born in North Carolina, she now lives in Ohio. Learn more about Bernish here!
Three ways around this.
– Cover the webcam with a band aid or foil.
– Get and external monitor (an HDTV works well, with an HDMI cable) then, go into your computer’s settings and change what the computer does when you close the lid. (Select Do Nothing) Your computer will now operate with the lid closed.
– Go to your local computer tech store and buy (for cheap!) an old but refurbished laptop that was not manufactured with a webcam. This is the best option, as if your computer is searched by a hacker, it will be immediately passed over if a webcam is not detected.
Load Windows 10 and it’ll probably re-enable everything and see through the tape with IR.
LOL
you are so right… they can still hear even if they cannot see—
Here’s a hint, disable your webcam in your device manager if you’re on a laptop. If you’re on a tablet or mobile device you can do the same. If you’re on a PC, unplug it from the USB port. It’s really not that complicated.
If you’re on a laptop, right click “My computer” and go to “properties” and go to “Device Manager” and you’ll see your webcam in there, just disable it if you’re not going to use it.
There’s other tips on youtube if you’re not tech savvy at all.