Five tips to know if your webcam has been hacked and what to do to avoid it

Unfortunately, there is a type of malware used by hackers to take over the webcam of some Internet users, mainly to spy on them, something that can be as unpleasant as it is dangerous.

the website of computer today shared a report detailing some tips for knowing if your computer’s webcam has been hacked and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you. We explore them below.

Strange sounds

There are webcams that connect with microphones and speakers, so sudden sounds coming from these gadgets could indicate that someone is spying on you.

In addition, there are web cameras that perform movements to locate a better point for the image to be transmitted or taken. If you notice that it moves abnormally, does not respond to your instructions, or simply moves without being activated, this is also suspicious.

Check the indicator light

The indicator light on a webcam confirms that it is active. If you fall victim to malware, it manipulates light to fool unsuspecting users.

If the LED flashes on and off when not in use or does not light when the camera is active, it is a clear sign that the PC is infected.

unknown applications

The camera can be turned on when starting a specific application, such as the browser, with the help of an extension. If this is the case, you should remove any suspicious extensions.

Also, if you see that your webcam turns on when you open a program, it is logical that you know that it is controlling it. You can find out which apps can access your camera by checking your system’s privacy settings.

Unknown audio or video files

An important telltale test is the presence of video or audio archive files that you did not create. You can check it if you access the webcam recordings folder. Files you don’t remember creating could have been recorded by a hacker using your webcam.

Be careful, because a hacker could also have changed the location of the files that are recorded with the webcam to a new folder. Check your webcam settings to make sure the save file location folder is the one you chose from the beginning.

cover the camera

It may sound paranoid, but some would like to make sure they covered the camera with duct tape or a post-it to cover it up. Most importantly, the tape is easy to remove for webcam use and not opaque enough to block light.

There are stickers specially designed for webcams and they are easy to remove and hardly any adhesive remains on the camera after removing them.