Sauter says using a physical object such as tape is a good form of extra security. Hackers could use photos or information from the computer for extortion. The idea that someone could hack a laptop camera is particularly unsettling given the fact that many people keep their laptops in their living rooms and bedrooms. In a way, the Zuckerberg photo confirms that nothing is really safe online - for all the anti-virus software out there, a piece of tape may be one of the most effective tools available. 'And it doesn't even always trip the light that shows the camera is live,' he added. In security testing, Lewis said he's been able to breach a system and take control of a person's laptop camera without their knowledge. 'It's easy to grasp and you can control it,' she said. Molly Sauter, a PhD candidate at Montreal's McGill University and the author of The Coming Swarm: DDoS Actions, Hacktivism, and Civil Disobedience on the Internet, agreed, saying 'tape is the best.' 'When you click on that link, something installs in the background because, by virtue of your action, you've allowed the software to install on your system,' said Lewis. Problem solved.' How it worksĪ hacker can get access to your entire computer, without your knowledge, relatively easily, through dodgy email links, for example. 'The easiest way to remove that lingering doubt is to just slap some tape over it. Lewis said he's been covering the cameras on his own computers with Post-it notes since the early 2000s. 'It's just preventative maintenance - it removes the doubt of, 'what if somebody got into his system,'' said Dave Lewis, a global security advocate who works for Akamai Technologies. Even if you're not a high-profile target like Zuckerberg. Several security experts say it's not paranoid - it's good sense.

Several baby monitors vulnerable to hacking, cybersecurity firm warns.

Canada 'failing' in fight against cybercrime, hacking.

Covering a laptop's microphone can muffle the audio enough to prevent a hacker from listening in, uninvited.

But the curious thing is that his computer's camera and microphone are covered with tape.Ĭovering a computer's camera doesn't protect the device from being hacked, but it does prevent a hacker from being able to see whatever the camera sees. The photo shows a smiling Zuckerberg sitting next to his laptop. A photo circulating online of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's personal laptop has ignited a conversation about data security, and how people can protect themselves against hackers.

Lorex secure for laptop