Most of us have heard the horror stories about our webcams. There are rumors that these video-capturing devices can be activated remotely and that they might be recording things whether or not we want them to be.
There is a degree of truth to this. There have been cases when high-profile criminals – or people suspected of being such – have had their webcams used by authorities to help track them. Some people have also reported seeing their webcams turn on when they didn’t want them to.
Even if you’re not doing anything suspicious, there’s no doubt that you don’t want people recording you while you’re unawares.
Here are four ways that you can help to secure your webcam:
Tape It Up or Unplug the Device
This is the simplest and easiest way to prevent anyone from spying through your webcam – put some tape over it! If you’re a frequent user of your webcam then this can be a bit annoying, but it’s better than the alternative.
If you’re using a desktop computer with a separate webcam, you can of course also unplug it when you’re not using it.
Choose Real-Time Antivirus Software
Most antiviruses are able to search your computer for malware or viruses that might be suspicious or lead to danger.
However, some more protective antivirus programs are able to keep tabs on your computer in real-time. This means that they can help catch any unfamiliar behavior in certain apps – such as your webcam. If they observe your webcam turning on when you don’t want it to, they’ll ask you for permission.
Get Webcam Protection
There are, of course, some apps and services that offer specific webcam protection. Webroot and Avast are two examples of popular antivirus software that also provide an option for you to secure and protect your webcam.
Use a VPN to secure your Webcam
Webcam malware generally use your IP address to get access to your computer webcam. You can get around this by using a VPN such as ExpressVPN (not an endorsement, do your own research before selecting a provider), A Virtual Private Network (VPN) gives you access to a virtual IP address and is a great way to protect yourself and hide your webcam location.