Credit: How-To Geek
Some time ago I wrote that you should disable your webcam, in the interests of privacy. Just in case you were wondering, FBI Director James Comey thinks so too!
Actually, scratch that – FBI Director James Comey thinks he should disable his webcam in the interests of his privacy.1
FBI Director James Comey probably thinks that you should not disable your webcam in the interests of enabling the FBI to invade your privacy if they choose, as they have been doing for a number of years.2,3
Stickers designed for the purpose of covering your webcam lens, without leaving a residue, are available from the Electronic Frontier Foundation at https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set
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1 “FBI Director James Comey uses tape to cover up his laptop webcam to ensure Privacy.” – The Hacker News, https://thehackernews.com/2016/04/tape-webcam.html
2 “In 2013, researchers demonstrated that they could activate the webcam on MacBooks without the indicator light turning on, something previously considered impossible. A former FBI agent confirmed that not only was this possible but that they’d been doing it for years.” – How-To Geek, http://www.howtogeek.com/210921/how-to-disable-your-webcam-and-why-you-should/
3 “According to The Intercept, the NSA uses a plug-in called GUMFISH to take over cameras on infected machines and snap photos.” – Wired, http://www.wired.com/2014/03/webcams-mics/
/ FBI Director James Comey disable his webcam his privacy uses tape cover up his laptop webcam ensure Privacy adopt encryption techniques warrant-proof webcam thwart lawful surveillance investigated shame on him Edward Snowden leaks NSA Optic Nerve project capture webcam images random Yahoo users million users images captured stored government servers 2008 tape over the lens webcam stop hackers government spying agencies recording your voice prevent watching capturing your live visual feeds slave slaves concern paranoia paranoid reports revelations spy on you through webcam disable cover webcam review handy products Script-kiddie hackers easily accessible tools phishing techniques hijack webcams unsuspecting people watch them through their camera store images videos people in compromising situations bedroom uploaded shady websites kids children implementing stop webcams on all the time webcam spying threat government agents hackers law-breaking voyeurs actively spy computer’s webcam ramblings paranoid conspiracy theorist hypervigilant hyper vigilant hyper-vigilant privacy advocate news stories over paranoia uncomfortable reality student sued his school school-provided laptop secretly photographing ensuing legal investigation revealed school collected 56,000 photographs students without their knowledge consent researchers demonstrated activate webcam MacBooks without indicator light turning on previously considered impossible former FBI agent confirmed possible doing it for years documents leaked by Edward Snowden NSA backdoor access cameras on iPhones Blackberries NSA tools remotely monitor users Gumfish malware tool remote video monitoring via webcam BlackShades remote access webcam access victim’s computers Back Orifice marginally skilled malicious users gain access your computer Ars Technica Meet The Men Who Spy On Women Through Their Webcams spying government agents low-tier hackers simple phishing tricks malicious websites simple tools catalog monitor allegations government spying intellectual majority of actual webcam spying creepy Peeping Toms Remote Access Tools RATs Trojans malware well documented examples only active snapping selfies Skyping trust indicator light camera can be active without the light webcam spying real threat spooks at the NSA kid next door access tools webcam against owner then threat legitimate disable or obscure computer webcam documented cases webcam spying insecure recording device permanently disable remove webcam obscure lens disable webcam antivirus anti-virus link running wrong executable whitelist trojan antivirus malware secure help unplug camera desktop users external webcams desktop machines external USB web cam webcam hacking hacker hacked plug an unplugged device workstation monitors USB cable hardware operating system OS BIOS option laptops integrated webcams disable webcam via BIOS reboot microphone camera microphone module same expansion board privacy mic microphone disable OS operating system solution secure foolproof disabling webcam cripple webcam disabling removing driver support Windows Device Manager Imaging Devices roster of devices remote administrative access install missing drivers enable device disable webcam Eyebloc Cover C-Slide tiny plastic slider Creative Cam Covers DIY electrical tape cover /
