Guide | How To How to Disable Your Webcam (and Why)

[Ink]

HowToGeek - http://www.howtogeek.com/210921/how-to-disable-your-webcam-and-why-you-should/

What Should I Do?
You should, no questions asked, disable or obscure your computer’s webcam. There is no good reason, especially in light of the numerous documented cases of webcam spying, to leave an insecure recording device permanently accessible and/or active on your computer.

Given the ease with which you can, in most cases, permanently disable or remove a webcam if you don’t use it (or use it infrequently) and the ease with which you can temporarily modify it to obscure the lens if you are a frequent webcam user, it makes little sense not to do so.

In the following sections we’ll highlight different methods (as well as their effectiveness, ease of use, and ease of reversibility) you can use to disable your webcam.

• Unplug your USB webcam (physical disconnect external webcam)
• Disable it in the BIOS
• Disable it in the OS (via Device Manager)
• Cover it up with free/paid solutions

Visit Source for more options.

 

[Dani Santos]

Or you can jsut use a paper with duct tape and cover it when you dont use it

 

[LabZero]

There is a type of malware named Webcamlogger which activate the webcams without turn on the LED and spy on the user by sending captured images on remote servers.
In other cases the Police malware turn on the LED of the webcam making believe the user to be spied even though in reality the webcam is not active.

 

[Mr.X]

Or you can jsut use a paper with duct tape and cover it when you dont use it

This is what I actually do, I'm serious. LOL
Besides it's cheap...

 

[Mr.X]

The other thing I do to my desktop machine webcam is to point the webcam to the ceiling when not in use, hahaha.

 

[Nirv5668]

I only use the webcam maybe once a week or every few weeks, so I don't need a perfectly convenient method, but I use a small band-aid and it works well. Cheap and the padded part keeps adhesive off the lens area. Most higher-quality band-aids (still cheap enough ) don't really leave much residue behind at all and are easy to quickly remove.

Glad to know this is still smart to do- I thought maybe modern webcams were no longer susceptible to this and was slacking lately...

 

[Mr.X]

I only use the webcam maybe once a week or every few weeks, so I don't need a perfectly convenient method, but I use a small band-aid and it works well. Cheap and the padded part keeps adhesive off the lens area. Most higher-quality band-aids (still cheap enough ) don't really leave much residue behind at all and are easy to quickly remove.

Glad to know this is still smart to do- I thought maybe modern webcams were no longer susceptible to this and was slacking lately...

Hey! don't apply the band-aid or duct tape as is, cut a little piece of plastic just to cover lens area up. This way no residue behind...

 

[Nirv5668]

Hey! don't apply the band-aid or duct tape as is, cut a little piece of plastic just to cover lens area up. This way no residue behind...

Sometimes I am too lazy for the cutting...and the band aid shape has a kind of cute look (I love the cute kids band aids, probably just want an excuse to use them)

 

[Mr.X]

Sometimes I am too lazy for the cutting...and the band aid shape has a kind of cute look (I love the cute kids band aids, probably just want an excuse to use them)

Having second thoughts on this and I'll try soon your "smart" solution,

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

I only use the webcam maybe once a week or every few weeks, so I don't need a perfectly convenient method, but I use a small band-aid and it works well. Cheap and the padded part keeps adhesive off the lens area. Most higher-quality band-aids (still cheap enough ) don't really leave much residue behind at all and are easy to quickly remove.

Glad to know this is still smart to do- I thought maybe modern webcams were no longer susceptible to this and was slacking lately...

Thanks!
I've never had a reason (yet) to make use of my webcam, but now I've a practical use for all those little translucent bandages ...those forgotten ones that get left in the box.
Now it's done, & our electronic 'cyclops' is now the blind pirate!!

 

[Behold Eck]

Just wear a disguise then no need for stickers and tape.

Regards Eck

 

[Nirv5668]

Thanks!
I've never had a reason (yet) to make use of my webcam, but now I've a practical use for all those little translucent bandages ...those forgotten ones that get left in the box.
Now it's done, & our electronic 'cyclops' is now the blind pirate!!

Yes! Those never seem to have a place in any medical situation, but are perfect here!

 

[FireShootSK]

Sticker is very good method too.

 

[Oxygen]

Wouldn't know why would someone would want to sit there and watch me work, but I disable mine until I need it.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Just wear a disguise then no need for stickers and tape.

Regards Eck

Oh, this made me *laugh* a lot & heartily!!
..I suppose I could always use the stickers and tape to make my 'disguise', but the little band-aid seems to be working very well even when I am not! *looks up*

 

[yigido]

Or you can jsut use a paper with duct tape and cover it when you dont use it

%100 working.. thanks for the suggest. Best anti-webcamlogger that I used

Spoiler: Picture

 

[jamescv7]

Use webcam for Video Calling like in Skype then disable immediately when done.

No need to activate webcam in Flash Player if it does not meet on your actual surfing habits.

 

[Behold Eck]

Oh, this made me *laugh* a lot & heartily!!
..I suppose I could always use the stickers and tape to make my 'disguise', but the little band-aid seems to be working very well even when I am not! *looks up*

Good tip about the stickers and tape Cats,especially useful when you run out of costumes to hire.

Regards Eck

 

[K Atari]

I just wear a gorilla suit when I use my computer. This scares off most of the webcam spies.

This ended up being a funny thread.

 

[Piteko21]

Or you can jsut use a paper with duct tape and cover it when you dont use it

@Dani my friends, your solution is the best: cheap and simple