Can Someone Spy on You (or your Kids!)Through Your Webcam? Uh, Yes.

I had heard something about webcams and a hacking a while back, but hadn’t really paid much attention to it until I saw a show on child predators that kind of freaked me out. Here’s the skinny…

People Can Easily Hack into Your WebCam

A hacker can send you an electronic greeting card or some other Trojan email that installs software on your computer. This software makes your computer’s camera a live feed of you or whatever is happening in your room. (Most of the reports refer to laptops and not desktops, but both computers have webcams, so it stands to reason this applies to both). One report I saw said the biggest target for this kind of spying is young women, but young kids with computers that have webcams are at risk, too.

Child predators befriend kids online and then when they have gained their trust, send them an email with malware in it. Then they watch a live feed of them in their own room or wherever their computer is.

HOW CREEPY IS THAT?!?!

Tip: If you, or your child has a computer in their room, you’ll want to cover the camera with a piece of masking tape.

Hacking into a Webcam through Facebook

Uh, believe it or not, if someone hacks into your FB account, they can click on the video tab and actually watch you (remotely) through your Facebook page.

There are tons of people online telling each other how to hack into webcams, (and it looks pretty easy).

Wow. Tape. Over your camera. Pronto.

And you probably want to make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and running.

PS – Pass this on, so others get the information. Thanks!

 

7 Responses to Can Someone Spy on You (or your Kids!)Through Your Webcam? Uh, Yes.

  1. paula July 26, 2012 at 9:24 pm #

    wow! did not know this. thanks for the heads up heather!
    now, where is my tape….

    • Heather July 27, 2012 at 12:17 am #

      You used it all on the boxes! Hope you guys are settled in and doing great. Love love love your new place.
      H

  2. Missy July 26, 2012 at 10:23 pm #

    Scary! Can this happen on an iPad?

    • Heather July 27, 2012 at 12:18 am #

      Hmmmm. Not sure. I will dig around online and let you now.

    • Heather July 27, 2012 at 12:28 am #

      I can’t find anyone online who is talking about that. I have an iPad 1 with no camera. But I know people who have gotten them for their kids. It’s a scary scary world, isn’t it?

  3. Jane July 27, 2012 at 7:31 pm #

    What about macs. Usually, they’re considered “unhackable” or less so…

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