Is It A Good Idea to Cover Your Webcam With Tape?

People frequently use a variety of materials to hide their webcams whether they are in an office or café, as you can see just walking about. Sometimes it's a ribbon, a piece of tape, post-it notes, folded business cards, stickers, or post-it notes. Using chunky peanut butter, I cover my webcam with it. More so than smooth, it is safe. None of those accessories were included when the laptop was purchased, and adding them can be viewed as being overly paranoid. The thought that someone would be interested in viewing your specific webcam makes us feel a bit egotistical and on edge, as if we were leaving our home and asking them specifically, "Please, no cameras." Although it seems crazy that individuals cover their webcams with tape, it is even more odd that it can be a good idea. [caption id="attachment_77467" align="alignright" width="1200"] canva[/caption]

Hacking of webcams is a real issue

Not only the title of my upcoming children's pop-up book, almost anything may be hacked. There have been several reports throughout the years of people using webcams to spy on unaware people, frequently people they know. Many women have had their webcams hacked, with the issue frequently progressing into blackmail. In 2009, a student realized his school-provided laptop was secretly taking photos of him (without offering any extra credit!). Secret documents reveal that the NSA and the British spy agency GCHQ both gained backdoor access to web cameras at the federal level (this can't be good), and that all of the snooping was done without the courtesy of the webcam indication light turning on. That's extremely impolite. It's already a little strange to have a webcam on your laptop, let alone all the horrible stories. In essence, a camera is always pointed in your direction. Not your shin, elbow, toes, or anything else—your face. And we purchased it. We all went into a store and essentially asked for one camera to be pointed at our faces at all times. I admit that I'm completely aware that nobody wants to look at me. In high school, that was obvious. The last time I checked, I am neither a woman nor a parent, and this alleged threat is considerably worse for them. Webcam hacks are still really unusual, and I always feel a little funny at night when I cover my webcam like a parrot. It might be more about the principle. I used to have a laptop without a webcam and used to love pretending in meetings that my connection was bad. Nowadays, I prefer to use a real person as a cashier at the grocery store rather than one of those self-checkouts that unsettlingly mirrors your image back to you. I didn't need to know my facial expression when I was purchasing Bagel Bites at one in the morning.

Steps You Can Take

Even though we are all aware that there are cameras everywhere, it seems only logical to take steps to keep some of them from catching us in their sights. Even Mark Zuckerberg, who has access to more data on individuals than the Library of Congress, covers his webcam with tape. Fortunately, you can purchase tiny webcam-blocking clips that give you the choice of whether you're in the mood to be watched, along with stuff like gum and blankets. They should simply be installed into more laptops. Additionally, you can stop your webcam, and having an antiviral as a backup is frequently ideal. Simply try to be as boring as possible in front of it, if you can. When you disable your webcam, feel free to act silly, but do so safely. I won't pass judgment if your webcam is covered with an osmium plate, draped in blackout curtains, and secured with one of those tire clamps.