If you’re using a computer in 2018 and it’s got a cam on it, then you’re possibly at risk of being the victim of webcam hacking. Now, don’t worry there are plenty of precautions that you can take in order to avoid being a victim of this. The good news is that you’re reading this article, which means you’ve got some interest in learning how to protect yourself. Keep in mind, I use my webcam every single day to chat with girls and I’ve not once been hacked. That’s only because I do what’s necessary to protect myself.
According to a 2014 article published by CNN, an unnamed Russian hacker managed to hack into thousands of webcam systems around the world and post them on his website. He claimed that his intentions were to merely highlight the worldwide problem of poor internet security. Nothing at all could have stopped him from following through with any and all malicious intent with his unfettered access.
Guess what?
His point was proven. Security should be taken to heart by anyone with an active webcam. No matter how secure you believe you may be, there are always habits that are leaving your proverbial back door wide open after locking the front. Here’s what you need to know about all this and how to avoid it.
Avoid Webcam Hacking Through Education & Precautions (The List)
Sure, you’ve already trained yourself to never click on any unfamiliar or spammy links that you come across. That’s great, but what about that pirated movie that you have been downloading in the background? Have you ever considered that the latest episode of a TV show or expensive game could be coming with malware? Pirates are already an unscrupulous group, so adding a code to access your computer remotely is never far removed from their modus operandi. Simply put, stop downloading pirated material right now. It’s going to cost you far more than you think in the long run.
While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about websites in general. It turns out that you don’t need to exist in the shadows of the internet to get yourself into trouble. 30,000 websites a day are being infected with malicious code and all you have to do is visit them to contact it. These aren’t just independent porn sites or any other meeting place for polite society’s undesirables, either. These are plain old run of the mill sites for small businesses, or places to trade pictures of your cats. Clearly, the danger is everywhere on the Internet and you never know where it’s coming from.
So, how do we avoid this web-based boogeyman and keep our webcams safe? We do it by practicing some common sense security techniques.
Shut It Down
Don’t leave your cam on when you’re not using it. If you can access it remotely, then it can be accessed by anyone. Shut it down and unplug it when you’re not on it. Otherwise, you’re running the risk of letting the entire world watch you pick your nose or sniff your underwear to find the cleanest pair.
IPs Must Remain Private
Under no circumstances should you ever offer up your IP address. No one will ever need it. If you’re talking to tech support about a problem, they should be able to figure it out for themselves. Treat it like your credit card numbers. No one would ever need them to get to know you better or prove that you’re BFFs. If someone wants your numbers, then they want to hurt you, it’s as simple as that.
Finally, never, under any circumstance, leave the default password on your cam. On top of that, never delete it altogether. It’s the last line of defense against invasion from the internet hordes.
Passwords Matter
According to tests and an article on Bloomberg, it only takes ten minutes to crack a lowercase password of six letters. That’s only slightly more time than it takes to decide whether you’re going to use your dog’s name or the street you grew up on. If you add two more characters and throw in a few capitals and symbols, that hacking time increases dramatically. Come up with a good, strong password and change it regularly. It’s the front door to your cyber house and should always be locked tight.
Now that you know all the precautions to take, it’s important that you do so. If you’ve already done that and you’re ready to test out your camming skills, then I encourage you to check out the list of cams on the homepage. Try and join one of them see if you come across any red flags or potential webcam hacking doors that they may have left open. Remember, always be responsible even when simply chatting with cam models online.