Webcam: They can see you, through a Trojan (they can record Skype calls), through a backdoor, through a vulnerability in the Wi-Fi router, they can record you through the Webcam of your device. It doesn't matter if we're talking about a phone, a tablet or a computer.
To see how they see you, you need to follow a few steps. Of course, you need to know which programs are using your computer's Webcam? Are the applications you use safe? How can you stop an application from using the camera permanently?
we will see it below:
The Easy Solution: Cover the Webcam
It doesn't matter what kind of device you're using. If you're worried about being watched, you can simply cover your computer's Webcam.
The smartest and quickest option is to find some duct tape and place it over the sensor. Once you have done that, you can look for a more specialized solution.
In the meantime, if you have a camera that is connected via USB, simply unplug it when not in use!
Use Process Explorer
Windows computers are particularly prone to giving access to the camera, but it's also very easy to stop the process. Microsoft develops an application that you can download to your computer (Windows 10 and earlier). It's called Process Editor and the size is about 1.8 MB. You can download it from Microsoft TechNet.
After downloading, extract the contents of the ZIP file and open the ProcessExplorer folder. Right-click on the version that corresponds to your system architecture (there is a 32-bit and 64-bit version) and select Run as administrator.
In the warning window that opens, click Run and then agree to the terms of use. When the application opens, minimize the window, we will need it later.
Identify the Windows webcam
The next step is to identify the webcam that Windows 10 is using. This is done by opening Device Manager, which you can find by right-clicking on the Start menu. Look under Imaging devices and find the entry that mentions camera.
Right-click on the entry, select Properties, and in the properties box, select the Details tab. In the Properties area, select Physical Device Object Name, and right-click on the value, selecting Copy.
Which app is using the camera?
Now you are ready to find the applications that are using your camera. Open Process Explorer and, in the menu bar, select Find (or CTRL + F). Then paste what you copied earlier into the field. This should be the value you copied from the Physical Device name.
Click Search and wait for the results to appear. A list of processes accessing your camera will appear. Search the list in the main window for anything that looks unfamiliar. If you find something you don't recognize, right-click it, select Properties, and then Kill Process. Confirm with OK.
How can you distinguish trusted applications from those you don't have installed on your computer? The name of the software is listed in the Process section and if it looks unfamiliar to you, you can check the Description and Company fields to understand what it is and where it is from.
In most cases, the name is clear. In other cases, if you don't know the name, search for it on Google to find out what process is running on your PC.
Problems? Scan for malware immediately
If it turns out that your computer is running some software that has access to the camera and that you did not install, you will need to look further. There may be some malware and it is a good idea to scan your system with a reputable security application.
Don't trust the app? Uninstall!
On the other hand, if an app accessing your camera is one that you don't trust or think shouldn't have access, uninstall it.
This is easy through the “Change or Remove Programs” tool from the Control Panel.
It should be noted that in general, it is very unlikely that someone is monitoring you. However, regardless of the chances, if you are thinking about it, simply follow the steps described above.
