Does covering your webcam achieve anything?

[Deleted User]

Most of us have heard by now that we should cover our webcams when we're not using them. I remember seeing in lectures people with bits of tape over their webcams.

When my webcam is on so is an LED right next to it. So AFAIK if someone were to hack into my computer and access my webcam I would know the moment they do so. Or maybe there's a way to work around that.

So is there a point to covering your webcam or is it just a scare tactic used by certain pro-privacy groups?

 

[YamiZee]

Not all webcams have the light. But those that do, yeah it would light up if someone hacked it on.

 

[XXXTORTELLINI]

There is a way of getting around the light, if they are good enough they can keep it off.

 

[YamiZee]

I'm no expert, but I'd assume it's more likely that the led is built directly into the camera hardware which would make it impossible to turn on the camera without turning on the light. I'm not sure if they are build independent.

 

[VinsCool]

There is nothing such as "stealth webcam", that's superstition from the early 2000's, when anyone could get a virus on MSN Messenger.

 

[Futurdreamz]

My webcam is always on. I used it to invoke Cortana.


I'm pretty sure nothing's capturing the video.

 

[Deleted User]

Really the only reason why mine is covered was because of Skype. I wasn't worried about accidentally answering a call with video, I was worried about going to change my icon and having the webcam turn on because it'd think that I'd want to take a picture of myself and use that as my icon. I didn't wanna see my own face every single time I went to change my icon. I know that sounds stupid as shit but that was why I did it.
Video calls were something I was worried about then too ofc, and they're something I'm getting worried about again since it looks like Discord's adding video or something soon. It's just that they weren't my MAIN worry for whatever reason.

 

[froggestspirit]

So what if they hack our webcams? They will look at my expressionless, unwavering face.

 

[FAST6191]

I imagine there are those webcams wired in parallel but there are others which can pulse the LED to indicate certain states, if that is then driver controlled then there is scope to disable LEDs. Not to mention plenty I have had have transmitted video/pictures long before the LED finished doing whatever it wanted to do.

That said for all the paranoia about being seen it would be the microphone that worries me more; my webcam is likely to see me staring gormlessly into the screen (people often joke about someone's face as they cum where for my money the more stupid ones are when they are engrossed with whatever is on the computer), and these days it is pointed at my bed so you could possibly catch a glimpse of me in my boxers or snoring like a train. The conversations I have in front of my computer though; those could prove either embarrassing or of some value.

 

[migles]

people cover the cameras, but if you really worried, you should remember that "there is no way" to prevent a built in mic in a laptop from being used by "hackers"..
while some old laptops even had nifty camera covers, or a way to flip them into the cover.. if the mic is sensitive enough, covering it has a small effect.. the only way is to either rip the mic off, or permanently damage it.. (maybe you can put a magnet in it? do magnets prevent it from working?)

the mic is as dangerous as the cam, except if the objective of the "hacker" is seing "nakiness"

 

[FireEmblemGuy]

I think it's become common practice for integrated webcams to be wired such that if the webcam is powered on, the LED is also receiving power, rather than being controlled separately. I don't know that for a fact, though. The mic mute button on my keyboard has an LED to denote that the mic is off, but I don't think it actually even mutes the mic.

Realistically, most people aren't going to have to worry about spyware programs utilizing their camera, and I get a grin out of seeing people who should know better walk around with a band-aid or something over their notebook's camera. If you're truly worried, your best bet would be to hardwire an external switch for the webcam/mic, although you're likely have to take a drill or dremel to the body of your laptop to fit it somewhere accessible.

 

[Urbanshadow]

Yes, its a cheap way to reduce anxiety and paranoia levels on the user. Way cheaper than drugs.

Isn't this EoF?

 

[Joom]

There is nothing such as "stealth webcam", that's superstition from the early 2000's, when anyone could get a virus on MSN Messenger.

Incorrect. There are sophisticated RATs that can disable the LED. They can also turn on the microphone without any sort of indication as well.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I dunno, protect from dust? Preserve lens? Or protect privacy? Unless your is a external camera you can unplug, but probably tedious to remove and insert again. I mean, I don't, no issues so far.

 

[rileysrjay]

Maybe we should ask our friends in the NSA, they seem to know about this kind of stuff.

 

[WeedZ]

The nsa uses a system called xkeyscore that can disable the cam led while monitoring. It does a lot more than that obviously.

Edit: auto correct