In November 2015, ESET conducted a study and found that about 25% of Russian users are afraid of their webcams, PCs and phones being hacked. About 17% of citizens cover the cameras of their devices with electrical tape. The hack gave rise to the creation of memes on this topic on the Internet, but as it turned out, the jokes were in vain.

In April 2016, there was a massive hacking of web cameras in our country. The attacker not only watched the victims, but also turned their lives into a reality show that was broadcast live on YouTube.

The hacker hacked into the devices and controlled them using LuminosityLink. When people turned on their computers and looked at the screen, the attacker showed them pornographic videos and showed the victim’s VKontakte page to viewers. At the end of the broadcast, those watching it harassed the victims.

The nonsense was that most victims did not react in any way to the actions of the attacker. Perhaps they did not understand what was happening at all, but there were also those who tried to resolve the problem with the help of an antivirus. But everything was to no avail, since the hacker promptly blacklisted the program, preventing it from running.

The identity of the hacker is still unknown, and the method of hacking has not been established. Some speculate that the hack was caused by an infected version of a free program for downloading media content - MediaGet. Viewers noticed that it was installed on most of the victims' computers.

This was far from an isolated incident; in the modern world this happens all the time. Before this, there were popular cases of hacking in other countries. A UK hacker was caught and given a 20-week suspended sentence and about 200 hours of community service.

Attackers are not even afraid of criminal punishment. The BlackShades virus can be easily found on closed thematic forums. The Trojan is easy to use, which is why novice hackers make their debut with it. Some attackers sell stolen photos and videos or blackmail their victims.

We must not forget that not only personal computers are hacked, but also phone cameras. In October 2015, the Stagefright bug was identified in 90% of Android smartphones. This bug gives access to the microphone, camera and memory card of the device. To hack a gadget, you just need to send an MMS with an infected file.

Malicious programs disguised as regular phone applications request access to the camera and microphone. It is very difficult to distinguish the original from the fake, so we strongly recommend downloading applications only from the official Google Play store. If you are in doubt, you should immediately block access to these applications.

But this method also does not guarantee your safety. Only .

Even smart TVs are not protected from malicious attacks either. The cause of infection may be an accidental transition to a virus page on the Internet through the built-in browser of the TV.

To protect your TV, you need to use legitimate software, have a firewall on your router and have it installed. Also, whenever possible, differentiate access rights for applications.

8 ways to protect your webcam:

1. It is necessary not only to install an antivirus on your device, but most importantly to update it in a timely manner, never disable it, and always use a firewall.
2. Keep your operating system, browser, applications you use, and webcam drivers up to date.
3. Do not use other people's Wi-Fi hotspots that are not password-protected. Don't open emails from unknown senders. Even if you have opened them, do not under any circumstances follow the links provided or download the files attached to them.
4. Download free applications only from the developer's official website.
5. Set a complex password for all devices.
6. Always change the default security settings to more secure ones.
7. It is necessary to monitor the indicators on webcams, and if they turn on, then you need to check their settings.
8. If you know how to manage hardware settings, you can disable it and enable it as needed.

Conclusion: It’s funny, but the most effective way to protect a webcam is regular tape or tape. But if a hacker has already gained access, then he can record audio from the microphone, so the main defense is

Toronto residents Chelsea Clarke and her boyfriend were watching movies on Netflix a few weeks ago while sitting comfortably in front of their laptop. This type of holiday is preferred by a huge number of people around the world. What makes this story extraordinary is one fact: there was someone else in the room with them.

Some people cover the camera's peephole with adhesive tape to protect their privacy.

As it turned out, the evening had an unpleasant continuation: when Chelsea went to her Facebook page the next day, she received a message from an unknown sender containing intimate photos of her taken the night before. A man identifying himself as Mahmoud Abdul from Cairo uploaded the photos with the comment: “Really cute couple!” Everything indicated that the pictures were taken using a laptop webcam.

Users have encountered similar problems before. In March of this year, a young man was targeted by the FBI and sentenced to 18 months for hacking Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf's computer. For several months in a row, he watched her through the webcam on her laptop and took intimate pictures from her bedroom. He then tried to blackmail her, demanding a ransom and threatening to publish photos and videos if she refused.

You may also remember the stories we posted on our blog about nanny cam hacks in Ohio and Texas. In both cases, the attackers gained full control of the device and shouted obscenities while the kids slept.

These stories make your hair stand on end, especially considering all our Herculean efforts to protect ourselves and our homes from unauthorized intrusions. We lock doors and windows, install alarms and motion sensors - just to protect ourselves from intruders. However, today the main danger is what we ourselves bring into the house.

Webcam protection

How to protect yourself from hacking and surveillance via webcam and surveillance cameras

• Use reliable antivirus solutions.
• Your best defense is to ensure your computer is always up to date with the latest updates. Always update your antivirus program to the latest version and keep your virus databases up to date, update web browsers and additional modules in them, and promptly install patches for third-party software, including well-known manufacturers such as Adobe, Oracle and Microsoft. Program SUMo can do the job for you.
• Make sure your router is secure enough.
• For example, if you have an outdoor security camera, do your best to learn how it works and what steps you can take to fully secure it. These measures may include changing your password or other default settings.
• Many people stick a piece of paper or tape on their camera when they are not using it.
• Of course, do not click on links in email. letters or messages from senders that are unfamiliar to you and simply look suspicious.

In November 2015, ESET reported that 25% of Russian users are afraid of their computer webcam and other devices being hacked. seal the built-in cameras with electrical tape. “Paranoia” has become a source of jokes on the Internet. However, it is completely in vain.

At the end of April 2016, it became known about a new massive hacking of web cameras in Russia. The hacker not only followed the victims, but turned their lives into a reality show, which he broadcast live on YouTube.

The attacker gained access to users' computers and controlled them using the LuminosityLink remote administration utility. When the victims looked at the screen, the hacker played unconventional pornographic videos and showed the victim’s VKontakte page. After which the viewers of the broadcast began large-scale persecution.

Paradoxically, most users did not react in any way to the actions of the hacker; it seems that they did not even understand what was happening. Some tried to turn on the antivirus, after which the hacker added the program to the list of prohibited programs.

It has still not been possible to establish the identity of the criminal; the hacking mechanism is unknown. According to some reports, the cause was an infected free program for downloading videos from the Internet, MediaGet; viewers of the broadcast noted that it was installed on most of the victims’ computers.




Such cases happen regularly. We are talking about known hacks in the US and UK. In the latter case, the hacker received a 20-week suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service.

The prospect of criminal prosecution does not stop attackers. The BlackShades Trojan they usually use can be obtained from private forums. The program is easy to learn, which is used by novice hackers who hack webcams for fun. In some cases, scammers go further and sell stolen photos and videos or use them for blackmail.

However, it’s not just the webcams of PCs and laptops that are at risk. Smartphones have their risks. In October 2015, it became known about a bug that affected 90% of Android devices. The bug allows access to the microphone, camera and hard drive - to do this, simply send the user an MMS with a malicious video file. A patch to fix the vulnerability was released almost immediately, but security experts from Exodus argued that Stagefright could still be exploited.

Typically, malware requests access to a smartphone's camera under the guise of legitimate applications. It is not easy for even an experienced user to distinguish an original from a fake, so it is important to download applications only from Google Play. It's also worth checking which apps have access to your smartphone's camera, and disable them if you have the slightest doubt.

However, even these measures do not guarantee. Only a comprehensive solution for a smartphone and tablet will provide reliable camera protection for an Android device.




The latest Smart TVs are just as vulnerable to hackers as PCs and mobile devices. To install a malicious application on such a TV, a hacker must gain remote access to the device or trick the user into installing spyware. The most common method of infection is going to a malicious page on the Internet from the device’s screen.

The main recommendations for protecting Smart TV remain the same: legitimate software, a firewall on the router and antivirus on the PC. An additional measure is to differentiate access rights for each application, if the TV supports this function.


How to protect your webcam from hacking:

• Install a reliable antivirus, update it promptly and do not disable it under any circumstances; use a firewall
• Update the operating system, browser, main applications and webcam drivers on your devices; Google possible vulnerabilities of a specific model
• Do not connect to non-password-protected Wi-Fi networks; ignore messages and letters from unknown senders, especially if they contain suspicious links and attachments
• Download free programs only from the manufacturer’s website
• Install on all devices with cameras and Internet access, including baby monitors and CCTV cameras
• Always change the factory security settings on all devices (computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, webcam, router, etc.)
• Pay attention to the webcam operation indicators and check its settings if it turns on not only during video calls
• If you consider yourself an advanced user, disable the webcam by hardware (How to disable the webcam?)

Almost all modern devices for accessing the global network have built-in webcam for taking pictures and chatting on Skype. Of course, having a camera in laptops and various gadgets is very useful and convenient, but with its help, an attacker can easily gain access to your personal data.

The intelligence services also have the technical ability to control web cameras on laptops and smartphones. Thanks to special programs, any third party can connect to your account at any time. webcam and spy on you.

Naturally, for such surveillance one must have special skills, including some representations O programming And cybersecurity Therefore, you should not suspect all your acquaintances of espionage, however, if you have serious reasons to fear such surveillance, you should know how you can protect yourself in this case.

The operating principle of hackers is quite simple: a special spy program Having penetrated the system, it activates the camera, bypasses the built-in security system and sends the received data to the owner of the program.

If you have a removable camera installed, then simply remove it from the socket or seal it with tape - a simple but effective method.

The camera LED turned on when video chat programs are not working is another danger signal. You need to disable the camera and run an antivirus program to search for Trojans.

You can also see similar programs in the Windows Task Manager. Do not forget about basic computer security rules: do not install suspicious programs from the Internet, do not disable the Windows firewall unless absolutely necessary, and regularly check that your anti-virus databases are up to date.

In the latest versions of KIS ( Kaspersky Internet Security) there is an option to protect the webcam from hacking - if some application tries to activate the camera, KIS protection will immediately warn about this.

You can also use utilities that block access to the camera when the user is not working with it. One of them is CamBlocker– a simple application with the ability to access the webcam using a password and notification of an attempt unauthorized access. CamBlocker has simple settings and can be launched along with the operating system.

The smartphone also allows you to conduct covert surveillance of its owner, both using the camera and the built-in microphone, as well as some other devices that are an integral part of the system - such as a GPS navigator.

Surveillance through gadgets is used not only by hackers and intelligence services, but also by smartphone manufacturers themselves, who collect personal data of owners for their own statistics or transmission interested persons

To protect your smartphone, only allow apps from trusted sources to access your data. Limit the rights of installed programs, especially intended for creating photos and videos or navigation. If you are not confident in the reliability of a particular program, then it is better to remove it immediately.

Who hacks webcams?

A big misconception is that users are being monitored by intelligence agencies. This option is possible if you are a very famous person. By the way, not so long ago there was a case when opposition activists in Syria were monitored through webcams. A big scandal arose, forcing the developer of one program to curtail the development of the product. Otherwise, voyeurism is fun for schoolchildren or scammers.

The Internet is full of thematic forums and groups on social networks, where they talk in detail about webcam hacking. Mostly children settle there, hacking unprotected PCs for fun and posting the videos they take to the public. It doesn't bring dividends, but it pleases the ego. There are also those who try to sell the recording or login information. The Internet is full of web portals with similar offers. Is it difficult to access the webcam?

Almost all hacks are caused by the owners, who voluntarily open the entrance to the device. You cannot control a webcam without a program for remote access installed on the target PC, which can be either single-point - only to the webcam, or full-fledged - to the entire system.

If you download dubious software and open strange links that, at first glance, do nothing, then the risk of picking up a Trojan for connecting to a webcam is high. The principles of social engineering work well, in which the user voluntarily allows an outsider to install malicious software on his PC or open access to the camera.

The hacker's task is to install a special utility on your computer: TeamViewer;

and others. This can be done openly, or it can be done secretly. With the open option, you will have to somehow convince the victim to voluntarily install the software and open access. With the secret option, you will have to delve into the code so that the installation and confirmation windows do not appear on the screen. How to avoid webcam hacking Install an antivirus. Any good software will immediately notice that they are trying to connect to the webcam remotely and display a warning on the monitor. It is almost impossible to bypass such protection;

Turn on your firewall. Even the standard Windows firewall does not allow you to gain control of your PC over the network. All suspicious traffic is suspended until the Administrator gives the go-ahead. We recommend watching the topical video: Do ​​not install unverified software. Most often, attackers distribute malicious code through ordinary, seemingly harmless programs. If the utility is not downloaded from an official source, the likelihood of infection is very high;

Do not click on suspicious links. Fraudsters regularly operate in instant messengers and social networks, distributing links to viruses. Even if a friend sends you a link asking you to watch/download, make sure that it was really a friend who did it;

Cover your webcam. Masking tape or duct tape will rid voyeurs of the picture, which means that there will be no point in following you. Now manufacturers produce special curtains and even entire laptops with shutters that cover the lens. Try not to cover the indicator - if someone connects to you, it will light up. Turn off your webcam. Go to Device Manager and disable your webcam if you rarely use it. At the same time, turn off the microphone, because you can be eavesdropped. You can also use a special key combination on your laptop (most often Fn + F12). None of the methods guarantee 100% protection. With careful approach, a hacker can bypass any protection except duct tape. But, again, the issue with sound remains. Malicious code is capable of injecting its settings into the system and turning on disabled devices, so even complete shutdown will not protect the owner. Useful content: Flashlight apps for Android that will “put out” your phone