Suspecting Over Your Webcam Security? Here's How to Tell If It Has Been Hacked

Joen Coronel, Tech Times 22 February 2021, 10:02 am

If you think that you are entirely safe at your home, you are wrong. You are still susceptible to hackers who could exploit your data and install malware on your computer through your webcam. Before it happens, it is better to know how to tell if your webcam has been hacked.

How To Tell If Your Webcam Was Hacked?

According to Digital Trends, here are the signs that you should observe, which could tell that your webcam is hacked.

Look at its light

Your webcam could be hacked by looking in its light. When you turn it on for a video call with your friend, you will notice its indication that it is already in use.

There are times that you might find it strange, and it could be possible that when that happens, an unknown person could be controlling your webcam. Maybe he/she is just watching from afar to spy on your activity.

If you observe that your apps are opening your webcam, this might be the reason. Immediately delete them for a suspected attack. However, in some cases, it could be because of the issues with your applications.

Browser Extensions

Extensions in your typical browser could also be an indicator of a webcam hack. If your webcam opens every time you click your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari, this could be the key.

If an add-on keeps on popping and your webcam turns on, find all the extensions. For example, if you are using Chrome, On your computer, open Chrome, simply go to the top right and click More, then go to More Tools and to the Extensions.

Now, you can remove the extensions that you want to get rid of, then click Remove to confirm, then, Restart your browser after you do it.

Unwanted Webcam Files

There are some cases that when you search on your computer drive, you can see some files which should not be there. What you saw could be a malware attack inserted into your driver.

If you are sure that a video file is misplaced there, it could be that a hacker might put it there to store. Additionally, if you notice a weird file name, check its content to assure what's in it.

Go to your webcam folder and search for your video files. Continue looking in another video folder to check if there are still unwanted video files that are put in a folder.

Change in Security Settings

It's also good to regularly check your webcam settings if they are tweaked at the very least. Chances are those small changes might show some signs of a suspicious hack or virus attack.

If you feel some undesirable activity is going on, go to your webcam settings and change your password. If there are apps that are using your webcam, disable them immediately.

Moreover, check for your anti-virus software if it is enabled. Look for its webcam settings to see if there are changes that might take place. You might also want to check your firewall settings.

Suspicious Apps Appear Through Anti-Virus Software

This is one of the most common problems that is often overlooked. When you run a virus scanner, reports of malicious files are shown on the screen. Quickly go to the folder of the files and look for suspicious content.

In some cases, a RAT (remote administration tool) can be installed via malware. This will infect your webcam, hence the so-called "camfecting." Examples of these attacks include specific names like Mirai, InvisiMole, and BlackShades.

Hacker Messages You

It's obvious that the hacker wants something from you. It could be in the form of money or a precious file. If a hacker instructed you to give money, do not send anything.

Most likely, he/she is only baiting you through blackmail. Simply ignore the message and do not click anything on what the hacker sent to you. Do not fall on the antics of that person.

Change your password to secure your safety and install an anti-malware app that blocks phishing links.