To think covering your work laptop camera is just paranoia?

Yes, just like the scam emails tell you 😆

so basically with nothing blackmailable on my laptop, I don’t need to worry? 🤨

The blackmail is tied to the other content found on the device, either for ransom or to compromise and blackmail the individual. Can't be a random stranger

We have a relative working in on line security. He hands out those wee sticky shutters to go over the camera lens, he says it’s dead easy for the camera to get compromised. They are cheap to buy.

But obviously the point is why go to all that trouble to get a strangers photo when there are billions of photos of people already online?

Not everyone is on the board and management of a large company! Blackmail is a good motivation

Why does this matter? Think of all the company websites which have tens of photos of their board and management, the photos of public and media outlet photos available online- let alone the photos available via social media- what would be the point in hacking a randoms laptop camera to take a photo of their face to deep fake it?!?

I mean most Samsung tellys have a cheat code that will record audio from the mic and look as if it is turned off. So given that these backdoors are there, someone might exploit them.

It's different, I had this explained to me by the police (someone had hidden cameras in my home, long story).

On a Apple MacBook the light the green light is 'hardware' connected to the camera, so impossible for the camera to be running without the light being green.

On most cheaper PC laptops the light is controlled by software so normally fine, but can actually be disabled in the software.

So not all computers are the same.

I disable the camera on alexa always

Do you discuss ,say finance, or maybe home security when you're in the room with your laptop? Went to a lecture from a guy who was bug in development in Silicon Valley. The ways they can spy on you are toe curling. Keywords to activate listening etc. They all put these privacy/ security practices into use, plus keep their kids off laptops till double digits etc.

Not paranoid at all. Good security practice. And make sure your mic is off except when actually needed.

Mines covered, I'm not paranoid, I did have someone actually record something through the camera, it started when I was making a coffee and I didn't see any lights on it. They told me they could, i didn't believe, it wasn't spurious, it was done to prove it could be done. Not sure anyone would actually bother though although I do work for a company that does take cyber security incredibly seriously.

I know somebody high up in the Army. All the cameras in the house are covered!!

I have a laptop and a separate monitor. I keep my laptop closed when I don't need to use the camera... I can work quite well with just one screen.

To me, it's just so easy to do, why not? I feel more comfortable with the camera covered up, just as I feel better with my curtains closed after dark. If it doesn't bother you or you feel it's not a real risk, that's your choice, but for some of us it's a simple precaution that does no harm.

I got that email! It was a horrible message saying what filthy habits I have and how everyone will now see my tastes and suggesting there was footage of me masturbating.

Despite the fact that I am the biggest prude in the world who has never watched porn, whose laptop is only used for very boring work, and whose worst crime in front of the laptop was probably a challenging booger situation in between teams meetings.... it had me spooked.... obviously I ignored it... but wow. It was nasty.

I think there was a time some were hacked. I've not read about it recently but think that's where it stems from. Most people probably aren't hackworthy though.

I had my calendar hacked and someone started writing messages into it. Said they could see what I was doing in bed but in obscene terms. I doubt it was true but I keep the camera covered with a bulldog clip now.

Number of camera hacks and filming form parts of cases for stalking, violence and harassment, industrial espionage is not a thing of the past. Even when your camera is turned off it can be turned on remotely as can your sound systems (listening to you or your meetings). It may be unlikely for you but is a possibility. Your friend understands this. A simple physical barrier is the simplest of things to activate and based in the real world. Don’t judge.

In 2019, before we were all using zoom all the time, I managed to strap on a Medela pump and express in from of a still active work zoom call.

I like to cover the camera. Just incase.

research the game watchdogs 2 basically with the correct knowledge everything or majority is hackable, or the tv show person of intrest with the machine ect

If 'they' get root access to your computer, they have access to the camera. I remember hooking a naked PC up to the Internet in the 2000s and it took all of 10 seconds to be infected with a virus via an automated bot attack. Things have gotten generally better with Windows security - originally it was built without the thought of it being connected to the Internet. I'd say if you don't use it cover it. I've even heard people deliberately destroy their mics and cameras.

What's more a worry is people stealing your photos or locking them up and asking for money - ransomware. If you care about files, back them up.

Annoyingly there's just loads of abandonware out there, like routers, and other Internet of things devices, that could be ripe and ready for attack and become stepping stones to attack your home network.

Well I guess we all better never leave the house then

Im not a celebrity. It’s not something I worry about, because aside from the fact of no one would use my face, I doubt I’d even notice.