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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cover my laptop camera

78 replies

Dustlandcinderella · 03/12/2020 16:45

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?

OP posts:
BessieSurtees · 03/12/2020 19:09

It’s never entered my head to cover my camera. From tomorrow I will, I had no idea Shock

Yesmate · 03/12/2020 19:14

I got a little sliding cover from eBay for about £2 for my camera. Marvellous little thing and it still closes fine

AcornAutumn · 03/12/2020 19:15

@Yesmate

I got a little sliding cover from eBay for about £2 for my camera. Marvellous little thing and it still closes fine
That sounds good, I just have a sticker and replace it if I need to take a pic.
deardeers · 03/12/2020 19:24

I had no idea of this! Thanks for posting this!

Hawkins001 · 03/12/2020 19:35

There is remote view software that's built into the companies laptop, best way too treat them is for strictly business,

Original poster
Dustlandcinderella · 03/12/2020 22:08

@Hawkins001. Yip, I only use it for work. Not even a quick browse of the net or personal emails. And I’m not skiving at all: doing well over my contracted hours. But, I still hate the idea of someone watching me

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 03/12/2020 23:53

I had masking tape over mine. Just use my phone now so here's a wave to anyone spying on me 👋 hope you enjoy being bored to death.

HeronLanyon · 03/12/2020 23:57

I have always always put a bit of blue tack on mine when not being used. Don’t even care if it’s seen as odd. It seems great and sensible idea to me.

HeronLanyon · 03/12/2020 23:59

jane that really made me laugh and then think ‘oh!’
Waves also whilst looking for more blue tack Grin

Honeybobbin · 04/12/2020 00:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mrsmummy90 · 04/12/2020 00:35

Always had a piece of gaffa tape over my camera. It's very sensible in this day and age to protect your privacy from hackers.

BessieSurtees · 04/12/2020 06:04

[quote Honeybobbin]@gremlinpoop I really want to know what your job is! I would never consent to wearing a device like that, I'd quit my job first![/quote]
We have devices that track us by GPS, it's a lone worker safety device for working in the community, home visits etc. The GPS tracker is to enable you to be found quickly if you are in danger.

When you press the button your conversation can be heard as it goes to a call centre who can listen and talk to you or phone the police etc.

Your manager can log in and look to see where you are should they be that way inclined.

sofiaaaaaa · 04/12/2020 06:06

I think a lot of people do since You first aired! I’m 23 and pretty much everyone I know does this, it’s hilarious seeing the taped over camera on stories!

Oneeata · 04/12/2020 06:39

I have mine covered - also a sticker over the time too. It really helps with clock watching, wishing my day away. 😆

Ifailed · 04/12/2020 06:46

you can also disable the camera (and microphone) in the BIOS on some laptop models.

DGRossetti · 04/12/2020 08:48

@Ifailed

you can also disable the camera (and microphone) in the BIOS on some laptop models.
I really wouldn't trust that over putting a physical block in front of the camera. (Unless you wrote the BIOS ?).

Goodness knows what nasties lurk within - bearing in mind Intel forgot to let us know there was a complete remote access kit in some BIOSes

blog.netop.com/how-to-access-bios-remotely

Hawkins001 · 04/12/2020 12:21

dust these days there's always someone watching, these days there's devices you can talk to that can be used to eavesdrop, of course you need permission ect but the techs there, same with phones, tablets ect.

DGRossetti · 04/12/2020 12:23

@Hawkins001

dust these days there's always someone watching, these days there's devices you can talk to that can be used to eavesdrop, of course you need permission ect but the techs there, same with phones, tablets ect.
FraughtwithGin · 04/12/2020 12:29

I would have thought that the camera was the least of your worries.
If you are logging in to your company's system remotely, your company probably logs the time you log in and log out.
Microsoft also has analytics in its software that records activity when you open a file, Word is a good example of this.
In addition you probably already know that systems set you to away or inactive after a certain time - which you can adjust (sometimes) yourself.

Hawkins001 · 04/12/2020 13:00

DGR just a bit

Original poster
Dustlandcinderella · 04/12/2020 15:29

@FraughtwithGin. I’m working my hours (well, a good few hours more), and don’t do personal stuff on work laptop, so that doesn’t bother me.

OP posts:
switswooo · 04/12/2020 15:35

YANBU, I always keep my covered when I don't have a Teams call, as I heard you can be hacked into and spied on. I bought similar to these on ebay, very cheap, £2 for a pack. They work very well, very smooth and flat.

To cover my laptop camera
BessieSurtees · 04/12/2020 19:01

Well I’ve just been told today that our work laptops have a cover, it’s so tiny I didn’t notice it.

Ghostlyglow · 04/12/2020 19:15

Do you all cover your phone cameras too?

Bluntness100 · 04/12/2020 19:18

I cover mine. Not because I think anyone is watching but once I was on a conf call in my pyjamas and switched my video on by mistake and then Sort of tilted my head looking at rhe little white light, thinking “what’s than then” when I heard someone say oh hello blunt, and I was then visible in my pjs to a great number of people.😱

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