🛜 Use your iPhone as a webcam: Your iPhone probably has a better camera than the one built into your Mac. As long as both your iPhone and Mac are linked to the same Apple account and on the same Wi-Fi network, you’ll see your iPhone show up as a camera option in any desktop video-calling app.
Clues someone is reading or getting a copy of your text messages
Just about every connected device you have can be used to spy on you, and this isn’t limited to smart speakers and webcams. Many smart TVs come equipped with cameras that you don’t even know exist. Tap or click here for tips on stopping your TV from tracking you.
You probably know a few people who prefer texting over calling. It’s a convenient and familiar way to stay in touch and exchange information. If you prefer text messages over voice calls, you’re not alone!
But those texts should be kept between the people writing them, right? That’s not always the case, as there are numerous ways others can intercept your messages. Here’s how to know you’re being spied on.
iPhone owners should look to their families
Apple iMessage texts can get intercepted by someone close to you using a connected device. There are a couple of ways they can do this.
First, there’s message forwarding. You can use this feature to forward messages to another device automatically. The thing is, someone else can do the same. Here’s how to check if it’s enabled:
- Go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
- If you don’t see Text Message Forwarding, go to Settings > Messages. Turn off iMessage, then turn it back on. Tap Send & Receive > Use Your Apple ID for iMessage.
- See any unfamiliar devices? Turn them off.
You can also use a code to see if your calls and texts are being forwarded:
- Open the Phone app and tap on the Keypad.
- Dial *#21# and hit the green call button.
- You should get a screen like this:
Here you’ll see details on the activity of your calls, SMS messages and even faxes. If they are listed as Disabled, you’re OK. Tap Dismiss when you’re finished looking at the data to go back to the regular screen.
Tap or click here for more details on how to check up on your call forwarding settings.
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.
Space junk hitting Earth, cruise ship potty cam & how to purge your browser's dirty secrets
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⚠️ MIT’s latest discovery: Ambient light sensors in our gadgets and webcams could let hackers spy on us — even if the camera is taped over. Spies could track hand movements and detect the presence of a human face. Just when you thought that black electric tape did the job.
Patch your printer! Millions of devices impacted by 16-year-old flaw
Office equipment and home peripherals are bought and installed daily. New owners blissfully going through the motions recommended by the manufacturer as usually things like printers, webcams, or card readers need software drivers to work. Tap or click here for free programs to keep your computer software up to date.
Your webcam could be listening to you and you wouldn't even know it
Working from home has ushered in a new era of essential office supplies, with webcams enjoying more prominence than ever before. It’s the one piece of equipment that you need for Zoom or Skype meetings, and you can even change the background to whatever you wish.