How to Protect Your Privacy if Your Webcam is Hacked

With the constant use of phones and computers for all types of communication, privacy protection is a worry for all Internet users. It seems, sometimes, that staying safe online is an uphill battle, with so many creative tricks always at play. However, you can take several steps to ensure your webcam is safe and protected from hackers. Here are four simple and straightforward ways to make sure your privacy is always secure.

1. Regularly Scan Your Devices for Spyware and Other Forms of Malware

While some hackers gain access to your webcam with a secret URL, most of the time they need to compromise your device or computer first with some type of malware. To make sure that your devices remain secure while you video-chat with others, it’s important to practice safe online habits in addition to running regular virus scans on your device. A Full Virus Scan will check for malicious threats on your smartphone and SD card that could be targeting your webcam. A routine malware scan like this ensures that hackers won’t gain control of your camera. Click here to scan your device for malware:

2. Don’t Fall for a Fake Wi-Fi Network

Hackers can set up Wi-Fi networks that look like the network you always use at your local coffeeshop or library. While you don’t want to have to continuously enter the password for the network, it’s a good idea to check up on the networks your device joins automatically. Delete networks one-by-one and start fresh every so often so you’re not duped by fake networks.

3. Physically Cover Your Webcam

The bottom line in protecting your webcam from hackers is to believe that it is always on. That means that you should never do anything in front of your open laptop that you wouldn’t be comfortable with anybody seeing. To ensure no one is watching, though, you can take a simple manual approach: cover the webcam with a piece of paper, a Post-It note, or a piece of tape. For example, Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is fond of this method.

4. Update Your Firmware.

Most webcams are controlled by firmware, and it’s through firmware that most hackers receive access to your webcam. If there are vulnerabilities in your firmware, manufacturers will often fix bugs and holes with new updates. Making sure that you’re staying familiar with these new updates — and ensuring that you’ve allowed for automatic updates — can keep your webcam safe.