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Webcam Hackers Can Spy On You In Secret


OnlySunshine

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I have a more elegant suggestion for the somewhat more computer savvy folks who would like to protect themselves.

 

Attacks against your computer will come in 2 forms: your operating system, and your web browser. Good anti-virus to protect your operating system is critical, but it is not enough, as most modern attacks don't care what OS you use and will instead attack your web browser directly. No longer are Mac and Linux users safe merely by virtue of not running Windows.

 

My suggestion: run a secure browser like Chrome or Firefox, and learn to use privacy and security addons like NoScript and Disconnect.



 

Guess what? This is really old news. Webcam hacking has been around since 2006.

 


advice on dealing with the "annoyingness" of noscript?  What are your criteria for allowing certain sites?
 

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When I notice that someone has hacked into and is watching my webcam, I start break dancing.  For some reason, that usually gets them to stop.

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Basilisa Marie

Or, ya know, just put masking or painter's tape over the webcam when you're not using it. 

 

There's a lot of software out there that can just track everything you do on your computer. On one hand, it's totally an invasion of privacy... on the other, if you aren't doing anything wrong, what do you have to worry about? 

 

When I worked in residence life at my university, I had a former-coworker-turned-supervisor facebook stalk the crud out of my profile, and tried to have a "serious conversation" about a single status update saying that my residents were misbehaving that day.  She backed off when I asked if she wanted a full misconduct report every single time I told my residents to stop goofing off the moment quiet hours went into effect.  But even that felt like a total violation of privacy...and that was something I had intentionally put out there.  

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I really really resent people who say that we don't need to protect our privacy because "if you aren't doing anything wrong, what do you have to worry about?"

 

That's not the point, and you know it. :frown: Please stop saying that. /rant

 

 

 

As for how to make NoScript less annoying:

 

You can train NoScript for the websites you use every day. It has the option to temporarily allow certain services, permanently allow them, or permanently block them. If you want fine grained control you can use that.

 

On the other hand, if you visit a new website which you think you can trust and you want to just go nuts, there is a handy option at the bottom of the hot-list that says "Temporarily allow all this page." Clicking that will switch over to an all-scripts mode for that one session. This is more frequently the mode I use when I want to comment on a blog or website which I never visit.

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Or, ya know, just put masking or painter's tape over the webcam when you're not using it. 

 

There's a lot of software out there that can just track everything you do on your computer. On one hand, it's totally an invasion of privacy... on the other, if you aren't doing anything wrong, what do you have to worry about? 

 

When I worked in residence life at my university, I had a former-coworker-turned-supervisor facebook stalk the crud out of my profile, and tried to have a "serious conversation" about a single status update saying that my residents were misbehaving that day.  She backed off when I asked if she wanted a full misconduct report every single time I told my residents to stop goofing off the moment quiet hours went into effect.  But even that felt like a total violation of privacy...and that was something I had intentionally put out there.  

 


Ain't no party like a Res Life party. 

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cmotherofpirl

Don't forget your phone can be remotely manipulated, and that your cable box is really a small computer that does spy on you. ALL technology is a two way street.

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, and that your cable box is really a small computer that does spy on you. ALL technology is a two way street.

 


the Neilsen company wouldn't be in business if this were true.

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