Until recently, users of modern portable devices were not very interested in why stick the camera on a laptop or tablet. Now, when there is a threat of identity theft, some are still inclined to take advantage of this reinsurance option. But is it really necessary?
Digital Attack Protection
The most interesting thing is that, after hearing the words of the FBI Director about why stick a camera on a laptop, many Americans, and not only, began to stick both a video communication device and microphones.
In fact, some logic can be traced here, because with the growth of technology, hackers have also evolved. This type of people is divided into two types: those who simply mess around on the network, making harmless tricks, and those who really need the personal information of Internet users.
So who and why seals the camera on a laptop? In one of his photos, which he presented when he talked about the success of Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg taped the camera and microphone of his laptop.
According to some reports, many employees of large public and private organizations also perform this procedure.
Hackers target
Most hackers are harmless and hack into other people's computers just to take control of a portable device and have plenty of fun over a confused user.
There is also a category of people who are engaged in hacking for the sake of blackmail. For example, they can use a camera or microphone to collect incriminating evidence, and then demand a sum so that the data is not made public.
There is also a category of hackers who want to get passwords from such important sites as banking. The same goes for electronic cash vaults. Even if the entrance is protected by mobile confirmation, there are programs that bypass this barrier.
It is because of such situations that it is clear why stick the camera on a laptop.
How it works?
The most common way a virus gets into any device is inattention when downloading files from the Internet. It does not matter how popular or secure the site is, you need to pay attention to the end of the file name.
If the user downloads music files, films or books, then the ending must be in the format. If the file has the extension ".exe", then most likely it contains a virus.
The second way to force the user to open access to their data is to use controller programs that allow another user to control the device. Thus, you can access any part of the system, including the camera. This is one of the reasons why people stick the camera on a laptop.
Many modern viruses are able to activate recording from a webcam, but at the same time it will not highlight the operation indicator. This is one of the many reasons why sticking a webcam on a laptop.
How to avoid hacking?
First, pay attention to the operating system - it will tell you what equipment needs to be updated software. It’s better to download drivers from official sources, since other sites can store not only the necessary driver, but also such an unpleasant appendage to it, like a virus.
The next barrier to protection should be an antivirus. If the version of the antivirus is licensed, then there is nothing to worry about. In the case of a third-party antivirus installation, you should take care of activating the key. It is recommended that you update your antivirus at least once a year, as attackers find ways to bypass the latest protection.
Another way to protect yourself is to set a password to log into the system. It is also important to manually turn off the function of the webcam after a video call, as this function may not be active in the program. You can understand that the camera is turned off, if you look through the peephole - the red indicator should turn off.
The last method explains why you need to seal the laptop camera. This method may seem a little paranoid, but many argue that it is effective. It is necessary to remove any reflective surfaces and compromising materials from where the gaze of the webcam falls. The same applies to users - when talking about applications using the camera, it is better to avoid the presence of glasses, badges or any other reflective accessories.
Who is more at risk?
Most often, state structures are attacked by hackers. The next at risk are media personalities who lead an active social life. Modern social networks are full of every minute reports of stars about the action taken, and video bloggers do not miss the chance to light up with an unusual story or photograph.
However, even if you do not keep your blog and adhere to a closed lifestyle, you can become an accidentally injured by hacking. So now it becomes clear why stick a laptop camera.