Webcams are incredibly useful, but if not secured properly, they can also be a gateway to privacy breaches. The threats, from cyberattacks to unauthorized surveillance, are real, but you can prevent intruders from accessing your webcam and invading your personal space.
1
Use a Webcam Cover for Privacy
In 2016, The Guardian reported that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg covers his laptop webcam, as does former FBI director James Comey. On the tape, Comey said,
I put a piece of tape over the camera because I saw somebody smarter than I am had a piece of tape over their camera.
This simple yet effective method blocks unauthorized surveillance, even if someone gains access to your device. Therefore, to protect your privacy, you must always keep your camera covered when not in use.
If your device lacks a built-in cover, you can use non-transparent tape. However, a sliding cover is a better alternative, as it allows you to easily uncover the camera when needed. For example, these CloudValley Webcam Covers are under ten bucks and do the job perfectly.
2
Disconnect or Disable Your Webcam When Idle
If you’re uncomfortable covering your webcam, you should make it a habit to disconnect your external webcam when not in use or disable the integrated one. This ensures that even if your device is compromised, hackers won’t be able to access your webcam and spy on you. When you’re ready to use it, plug it back in or enable it, and you’re good to go.
If you use an external webcam, unplug it from your computer. You can disable an integrated webcam via the Windows Device Manager or System Preferences on macOS.
3
Block Suspicious Apps & Websites From Accessing Your Webcam
Your webcam could be compromised by a malicious app, malware, or website that secretly gains access. Once these apps have access, they can activate your webcam anytime to spy on you. Therefore, you must regularly review your device’s permission settings and revoke camera access for suspicious apps.
You can revoke camera access for suspicious apps in your operating system’s app permission settings and deny access to websites in your browser settings.
4
Pay Attention to What’s Visible in Your Background
If overlooked, your background during video calls can expose personal items, sensitive data, or private information. This could reveal your private life, which could harm your reputation with colleagues, friends, or clients. Therefore, you must do a quick background check before joining a meeting.
Make sure no sensitive content is visible. Use software features to blur or replace your background, and consider using virtual backgrounds to hide what’s behind you.
5
Update Your Webcam Drivers to Stay Secure
Hackers may also exploit vulnerabilities and bugs in outdated webcam drivers to infiltrate your device and access your camera. Although most operating systems automatically update drivers when new OS updates are installed, you must manually check for new drivers on the manufacturer’s website, especially if you’re using an external webcam, and install them.
By keeping your drivers up to date, you ensure that you’re using the latest security patches from your OS or your manufacturer, helping to protect both your webcam and your privacy.
6
Watch for Indicators of Webcam Hacking
The longer a webcam breach goes unnoticed, the greater the threat to your privacy. That’s why you must be able to recognize the signs of a webcam hack when a hacker secretly activates it to spy on you. One key indicator is if the webcam light turns on unexpectedly, even when you’re not using any camera apps.
If your webcam appears in use when you try to access it or if you find unusual photos or videos on your device, these could be signs of a hack. If you ever have suspicions, you can review your webcam’s activity logs to detect any unauthorized access and verify whether your webcam has been compromised.
These are some steps you can take to strengthen your webcam privacy and protect your personal life. If you haven’t been prioritizing webcam security, start following the above tips to prevent any accidental privacy breaches you’ll later regret.
