The pandemic has shifted our routines and, essentially, the way we work and operate in the world. With most of the workforce now working virtually, our webcams are involved in most tasks, especially meetings. Webcam protection has become a huge topic for employers and individuals across the globe as the rate of cybercrimes has increased tenfolds in the last two years during the pandemic.
Why is Webcam Protection Important For You?
Hacking your webcam isn’t exactly rocket science. The webcam hacker only needs to add malware to your machine. This will allow them to penetrate your security, copy all required personal information, and spy on you through videos and images taken from your webcam.
How to Know If Your Laptop Camera Is Hacked?
There are certain ways in which you can identify if your webcam has been hacked. Here are some indicators you can look for:
- Beware of your camera moving without your command. If you feel this is happening. Turn your camera off immediately and scan your computer for any malware.
- If you are being spied on, any images and videos taken from your camera will be saved on your computer. If you find such suspicious storage files, it is more than likely that your webcam protection has been compromised.
- Watch out for the webcam indicator light and see if it is blinking abnormally without your prompt or another application using it.
A webcams hacker will use malware like infectious emails and apps to infect your laptop and use your webcam against you. Here are some ways to find the answer to how to protect my IP address and prevent your webcam from being hacked.
How to Protect Your Laptop from Webcam Hackers?
Cover Your Webcam
Probably the easiest way to stay away from webcam hackers is to place a cover on your webcam simply. You can use adhesive tape to do this. If using a tape isn’t an option, you can use a webcam cover that can easily slide open and close as needed.
Use a VPN
The best answer to how to protect your IP address is IP masking. You can do this through a good and secure VPN, allowing you to change your IP address and secure your connection to the internet. This will ultimately make sure that whoever is connecting to your laptop does so through another server.
You can download a free trial for VeePN and see how effectively it masks your IP as you browse the internet. If you frequently connect to public Wi-Fi, you should never do so without using a good VPN to secure your connection.
Make Sure All Default Logins are Updated
If you use a separate camera connecting to your device, you must change the default username and password for webcam protection. Not doing so will be inviting a data breach.
Enable Your Firewall
Your windows firewall is your best defence against most of the malware out there, including malware that can hack your webcam. Your computer will be protected from suspicious connections. Make sure your firewall is turned on and is updated at all times for the best webcam protection.
Download an Antivirus
Antivirus software isn’t as popular as it used to be, but you cannot deny its importance. It can save you from infectious content that can be used to access your files and your data. Make sure you purchase a known software from a reputable source.
Avoid Suspicious Ads and Downloads
Ever promoted by a pop-up to download software that would help you protect your PC? Think again. This software might be a way to inject your computer with malware. Always avoid downloading software from such websites and ads. Know a few reputable sources for your downloads and keep using them. This is vital for your webcam protection.
Update Your OS Regularly
We know that updates and the prompts that come with them are super annoying, and we always tend to snooze them or avoid them. But, we will urge you always to install the recommended updates as soon as possible. This is your OS’s way of ensuring there are no loopholes in your security patches. These loopholes are what compromise your webcam protection as well. So the next time you are prompted to install a security update, do it without thinking twice or delaying it.
Be Paranoid
Consistently check for suspicious files and hardware activity on your laptop and ensure you don’t leave it on when you aren’t actively working on it. Shut it down immediately when you are done working with it.
Your webcam is essential for you to work and operate in this world of remote jobs and conferences but make sure it doesn’t become a reason to be compromised online. Your webcam protection should be top-notch, and you should follow all the preventive measures mentioned above. Especially downloading a good VPN when you are connecting to a website or even if you are browsing through a private network. Be vigilant and be careful.