[Lincoln6Echo]

Hi,

I recently got a promotion at work and will be spending a lot of time away from my wife. We plan to use webcams to keep in touch. Now my wife and I are extremely paranoid when it comes to the internet. We refuse to use credit cards online in fear of getting the numbers stolen.

I'd like to know what is the likelihood of either of our webcams getting hacked and recorded. Both of us run up to date versions of AVG and will be using our Dell XPS built in webcams which have an indicator light to show when they are active. Is it likely for someone to hack into our chats and view/record them without us knowing? Is it also possible for someone to simply access and record our webcams even when we're not using them?

I guess I'm just very concerned about privacy. Thanks in advance

[midders]

If you're that worried about your privacy, you should setup a VPN connection (Virtual Private Network) with the other party when video-conferencing, or at the very least use some software that encrypts the video stream. Google will find you loads of VPN solutions at varying prices; take your pick.

For someone to be able to use your webcam without your knowledge they would have to have totally compromised your system, and unless there is a way of disabling the power led for your webcam in software (AFAIK there isn't) then the LED will be on when it is in use.

Slainte

midders

[Lincoln6Echo]

Thanks for your reply. I haven't had a run in with any sort of malicious programs/viruses that have caused any damage to my computer. The worst things I've come across are a couple of replicating trojans and tracking cookies.

So I suppose it's safe to assume that even without a VPN, it's quite unlikely for our webcams to be hacked and recorded without us knowing unless we're having some major system intrusions?

[midders]

Originally Posted by Lincoln6Echo

So I suppose it's safe to assume that even without a VPN, it's quite unlikely for our webcams to be hacked and recorded without us knowing unless we're having some major system intrusions?

Essentially, yes. The other thing to consider is the time and effort that would be involved in compromising your system; although technically possible it's highly unlikely that anyone would go to the trouble unless it was for large financial gain.