Webcams are a potential spying vector for hackers, raising serious concerns around privacy and security
To mitigate this risk, laptops and external webcams often come with physical lens covers that can be slid across the lens when not in use to prevent spying
There are several other techniques that can be used to prevent unauthorised webcam use, including disabling the integrated webcam in Device Manager, monitoring app permissions to ensure only trusted apps can access the camera, using antivirus software with dedicated webcam protection, and keeping all webcam drivers up to date
Combined with other good security practices, such as reducing remote access tools and avoiding illegal or pirated software, users can ensure their webcams are not being used for spying operations against them.
However, if someone suspects they are already being spied on via their webcam, there are some tell-tale signs, such as the webcam indicator light being on when not in use, unexpected video or image files being found on the computer, unexpected access prompts, and unexplained changes to camera permissions. In this case, a deep system scan should be run to check for and remove any malware infections.
