When someone takes control of your computer's webcam, it's called camfection. This is possible thanks to a virus that you may have downloaded thinking it came from a trustworthy source.
Contents1. Flashing LED2. Error message when trying to launch the webcam3. How to check task manager to see if webcam is running4. Does the webcam make strange movements?5. Find files you didn't createHow to protect yourself from future attacksConclusionThanks to camfection, the person on the other side can take photos and videos of anything or anyone. Here are some signs to check if your webcam has been hacked.
A common symptom indicating that the webcam has been hacked is the flashing LED light next to your webcam, indicating that your webcam is running. You will need to find out what caused the webcam to turn on by itself. These can be applications installed on your computer or extensions you have installed in your browser.
One way to check is to close all your apps one by one, including your browser and those running in the background. If the LED light turns off after closing the app, you know what the culprit is.
If the LED light turns off after closing the browser, it might be a browser extension causing the problem. Check your extensions and disable them one by one to find the culprit.
Once you have uninstalled the programs that use the webcam. If you still get the usage error, you need to perform an antivirus cleanup.
If the light isn't on, but you still want to make sure the webcam isn't working, you can always check Task Manager (or System Monitor for Linux/macOS). To do this, right-click on the taskbar and click Task Manager.
The Task Manager should open to the Processes tab. Otherwise, click on the Processes tab and the applications in the list will be those currently running. If the webcam is in the list, right-click on it and select "End Task".
If you see "winlogon.exe", there should only be one. If two are listed, go offline and use an antivirus program to scan your computer. After a while, go back to the Processes tab and see if the webcam is "magically" working again.
Some of today's webcams can move in different directions and zoom in and out. If you notice your webcam making these movements even though you haven't given such a command, it's pretty obvious that it's being remotely controlled.
If you see audio or video files that you don't remember creating, this could be the evidence you need to confirm that your webcam was hacked. Browse the files created by your webcam when you record something and look for files that were not created by you.
If you feel a little paranoid about your webcam and rarely use it, the best way to protect yourself is to cover it with tape. This way no one will be able to record or take pictures. Even if they did, they could see a lot.
Also, if possible, use updated anti-virus software to perform a full scan of your system regularly. Before scanning your computer, start your computer in safe mode. You can do this by typing msconfig in the Cortana search bar and hit enter.
When System Setup opens, go to Boot Options and choose Safe Boot. Click OK and when your computer restarts, it will be in safe mode.
If after running any of these programs it detects any infections, research them and see if any of them have been reported to any pirate webcams.
Also, be careful when you receive an email with a link from someone you don't know. It is better to delete the email than to risk your digital security.
Try to stay away from free Wi-Fi hotspots, but if you must use one, use a VPN. Avoid free VPN services as they are slow and insecure.
You can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your computer. Follow the tips above to check if your webcam has been hacked and stay safe.
