Why should I cover my laptop's webcam?

Some celebrity people have been seen covering his webcam, including FBI Director James Comey, who said in an interview: “I put a piece of tape on the camera. Because he saw someone smarter than me had a piece of tape on his camera. ” The FBI man probably saw the picture Mark Zuckerberg posted on his Facebook last year: At the bottom of the picture you can see a laptop with a web camera covered with tape. She is not the only 'celebrity' who does this, Pope Francis' tablet has also been seen with a tape on his camera.

Mark Zuckerberg also covers his webcam with a tape

It's easy to imagine hackers wanting to access both a FBI Director's laptop and Mark Zuckerberg's Macbook Pro, but would they want to access a random person's computer webcam? The answer is that hackers benefit the most if they can capture footage or audio and then blackmail it. It is unlikely that they will bother someone who is not a celebrity or who is not in an important position.

The only way for hackers to access and activate a webcam without your knowledge would be for them to take control of the computer first, which basically makes the entire scenario similar to any other type of remote attack. In the most likely scenario, you would receive an email with an attachment that, when opened, would install the RAT software on your computer (Remote Administration Tools).

Based on all this, some recommendations:

• Close the laptop when you are not using it. Always keep all your programs updated, especially web browsers and all associated add-ons. Make sure that the firewall is activated. Always run an antivirus and scan regularly. Avoid clicking on the links in Emails, even if you know the sender. If you want to be absolutely sure that no one is watching or listening to you, do as Zuck and cover your camera with a tape.