To cover my laptop camera

[Dustlandcinderella]

I work for a company that seems to be very hot on employee surveillance. I’m still new, but I just have the feeling they keep an eye on what we are doing working from home.

So, I put a sticker over the camera so no one can look at me while working. I take it off for zoom calls etc.

My partner thinks I’m nuts, and there is no way that someone is monitoring me via my laptop.

Aibu?

I do that anyway on my personal laptop as webcams are hacked. I know it’s rare or unlikely but it just makes me feel more secure. Also I once got one of those ransom emails where they claim they have footage of you doing all sorts to dodgy websites - which isn’t possible after all when your cam is covered!

I do find companies which heavily monitor their employees so demotivating. I really hope they aren’t tracking you!

Definitely cover the camera. I always keep mine covered unless I'm using the camera, why risk it?

Mine is mostly covered because when I'm not expecting a video call I look like Waynetta Slob though, but it works for surveillance too!

I do that, I don't need anyone accessing my Mac and staring into my living room. Totally sensible thing to do.

Your company would be in all sorts of trouble if they monitored you in this way without knowledge/consent...however it's not a bad idea to have a cover on your camera anyway because of clever little hackers who like to get into people's machines just to be voyeurs and watch/listen to folk when they're unaware.

fully aware that isn't the proper use of the word voyeur but it feels most apt for these sorts of creeps

Yes - covered your camera. But that's not the only way your activity can be monitored. If you're logged on to the company website, they can monitor keystrokes, so if there's no keyboard activity for a while, it can be picked up.
This has been possible for years though, it's not a new thing. Many years ago (20 +) when I had an office job, a chap was sacked as he's logged on to porn sites which he surfed intermittently throughout the day.

Sensible. Ds was sent malware virus once which included his pic and locked his files.

Everyone should do that anyway. Mark Zuckerberg does, and he should know!

I do after watching a documentary where people were viewing inside homes via webcams

That reminds me, my sticker has fallen off my laptop camera, I need to get a new one.

I cover my iPad camera up.
If Mark Zuckerberg does it, I’m doing it!

Mark Zuckerberg covers his camera. They wouldn't sell sliders and covers if it wasn't a common thing to do.

@RunningFromInsanity

I cover my iPad camera up. If Mark Zuckerberg does it, I’m doing it!

Ditto.

Yanbu, better safe than sorry.

Cameras on all my devices are covered unless I'm using it.

I cover mine. My Lenovo laptop has a slider built in!

I cover my work laptop's camera and after reading this thread I'm going to do it on my personal laptop too!

I always have mine covered unless in a meeting! If Mark Zuckerberg has a sticker he knows something!
You can buy little sliding covers - I have them and they cost pennies. Saves you sticking them on every time.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FK5N4TG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I have mine covered up too

I always have mine covered unless on a meeting

I’m not as bothered about monitoring usage: it’s not ideal, but I work hard, and have nothing to worry about there. It’s more that I don’t want someone looking at me!!!
I want to be free to pick my nose and look grotty

I do this too OP. Makes me feel uncomfortable otherwise.

I also have a Lenovo with a slider (which I rarely remember to use) so it is indeed a real thing.

I do. I use washi tape rather than a sticker. My old laptop had a little light next to the camera that came on whilst recording. I never used the camera but I noticed it was on one day. I have covered the camera ever since.

any of the laptop coverers also sticker their phone front camera?