On the dotted line: It’s easy to create a virtual signature on a Mac using the Preview app. In Preview, hit Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage signatures. Sign using your trackpad (hard) or sign your name on a white piece of paper and hold it up to your webcam (easier).
5 signs of a hacked webcam
You look at your PC or Mac and notice the webcam light is on. But wait, you haven’t even opened your camera.
Hackers or even some creepy admins in a chat room can remotely take over webcams. Terrifying.
Here are five signs that your webcam is hacked.
- Is the webcam light on when you’re not using it? Your light should only come on when the camera is in use. If it lights up out of nowhere, it has possibly been hacked.
- Weird icons or unfamiliar programs pop up on your desktop. Got these? Creeps could’ve installed software to access your webcam.
- Unexpected pop-ups and documents in your files. That’s another red flag.
- Friends start receiving weird messages or emails from you. Your webcam could be compromised and the hacker is sending and receiving data from it.
- There are browser extensions that you didn’t install yourself. Hackers use them to access your webcam. One clear sign is if the light turns on when you open your browser.
Now that you know the signs of a hacked webcam, let’s review some preventative measures.
Prevent hackers from accessing your webcam
Webcam cover
Years ago, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg told the world that he covered his webcam with tape. That’s effective, but it can mess up your camera.
A webcam cover is easy to slip onto your laptop. It’s easy to remove and the best part is that it doesn’t damage your webcam with sticky glue. This 12-pack of webcam covers fits most laptops, desktop PCs and smartphones.
Click here for more webcam cover options.
Keep software updated
Ensure that your operating system, webcam drivers and applications (especially video conferencing software) are always up to date. Updates often include security patches that address known vulnerabilities.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Turn your iPhone into a full-fledged webcam
With most video chatting platforms, you must download a large program, create an account and log in. Then you’ll have to figure out how it works. But there’s one great option that fixes all that. Tap or click here for a free video chat program that doesn’t require an account or even your name.
Sextortion scams are getting more realistic
Got an email saying your webcam was hacked? Don’t worry — it’s just another sextortion scam. I’ll tell you why it’s all fake and how to stay safe.
🚨 “Hello pervert”: Scammers are sending emails claiming they’ve recorded you through your webcam and will release the footage unless you pay up. They’re using details like your home address or an old password to make it more believable. Don’t reply, and if any accounts still use that old password, change it immediately.
5 signs your security camera was hacked and steps to prevent it
When setting up a home security system, you must password-protect your Wi-Fi and set up two-factor authentication (2FA). Hackers could take over your home network if you don’t take these precautions.
Safeguards like these can help stop a digital home invasion. Hackers are increasingly breaking into home security cameras, taunting and extorting people. A security oversight on your part could open the floodgates for a criminal to launch a reign of terror on you and your family.
Big Tech is listening and tracking your voice recordings. How to make it stop!
Most of what you type, say, search and buy is being tracked in one way or another. Big Tech gives us great free products, and the price is our privacy. Even your TV habits are packaged up and sold to advertisers. Here’s how to stop your TV from spying on you.
5 signs of a hacked webcam
Is your webcam light on? That’s one clue a creep’s watching in. I share more signs, in one minute.
15 tech tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner
Most gadgets don’t come with a user manual that spells out every feature. We learn them by doing, when someone spills the beans or asking, “How’d you do that?”
For example, no one thinks to dive into a new router’s settings. The more connected devices you have, the more critical is this step. Tap or click here for a few essential steps to ensure your files, data, and network are safe from hackers and snoops.
Review: This isn't your typical webcam for Zoom calls
Webcams have long been an important part of life at the office, but never to the level of necessity they’ve become over the past two years. Since the start of the pandemic, jumping on a video meeting every so often has become something that, for many, now happens a few times a day.
Back in the office? 5 ways to use your webcam other than Zoom meetings
Remember in early 2020 when we were excited to join Zoom happy hours, and every meeting was a video?
If you still are meeting with clients, coworkers, and friends via video, you might as well look and sound good. Tap or click for my top Zoom tips.
That Zoom invite might be a clever phishing trick - Red flags to watch for
Even though people are returning to work in their offices, video conferencing is still common. We’ve been bitten by the video chat bug and regularly have virtual meetings with coworkers and chat with loved ones and friends through webcams and smartphones.
More than just video calls: 8 new uses for your webcam
Thanks to the pandemic, video calls have become more common than ever before. People who never even made a video call are now using the tech to keep in touch for work, school, or simply a virtual happy hour.
You probably notice the difference in care among your friends, family and coworkers when on a video call. Aside from how much effort they put into their clothing (nothing wrong with pajamas for a casual chat), some people seem to look better. You don’t need a makeover or filters to improve your virtual appearance. Tap or click here for Kim’s tips on looking good for video calls.
It’s tax time – Easy ways to scan without a scanner
Tax season isn’t only when the IRS kicks into high gear. Scammers do, too.
Rumors swirl every time a new rule or regulation rolls out, and you can bet cybercriminals use that confusion to swindle people. Tap or click for a fact check: Do you need to submit a selfie with your taxes this year?
How to easily turn your smartphone camera into a full-featured webcam
While many people rarely ever used video conferencing before 2020, it’s become commonplace during the pandemic. Now we’re regularly meeting with coworkers virtually, or chatting with friends and family through our webcams and phone cameras.
How to easily turn your Android into a webcam
Remote work has always been a thing, but it’s more prevalent now, thanks to the pandemic. If you work remotely, you need a way to connect with your staff, typically done through video conferencing. Tap or click here to find out how to give your home office a high-tech makeover.
Quick tech tip: Scan photos and documents without buying a scanner
With tech, there’s always one more thing you need. It could be one more gadget, one more app, or one more piece of paid software. That’s why I make it my mission to help you get stuff done with what you already have.
This Chrome change makes it easier to tell which sites can access your webcam and mic
If you want the most up-to-date security and privacy features, you should check out Chrome’s latest and greatest update. Google Chrome 92 just hit the scene. It introduced fixes for some pretty severe security flaws.
Webcam videos leaked after accounts left exposed online
Have you ever been the victim of identity theft? If you have had your identity stolen, you know how hard it can be to clean up the mess it leaves behind.
The problem is, it can be a difficult crime to avoid. There are many ways you can end up a victim of identity theft, but one of the most common is via hacks or data leaks that expose your personal information. If these criminals get their hands on your information, you could end up a victim of the worst identity theft scam you’ve never heard of.
Google Pixelbook Go
Want a high-quality Chromebook without spending a grand on Google’s previous Pixelbook? Try the Google Pixelbook Go. It has an incredible battery life and a super comfortable keyboard.
It comes equipped with a 1080p webcam and has an excellent overall design. It’s a great entry-level laptop: thin, light and easy to use. Check out the specs below.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.