Our CEO recently gave an interview here in Portland, Oregon about cyber attacks targeting web cams. Covering your web cam when not in use is a prudent and effective mitigation.

References

• Examples of extortion attacks:

  • Article from Ars in 2013 about “Slaving”

  • 2011 conviction for sextortion that used camera, among other means

  • Miss teen USA extortion – 2013-2014

  • Webcam blackmail can also happen when using the video camera for dating sites

• General info about the practice of covering your camera:

  • NYTimes on Zuckerberg – 2016

  • FBI chief puts tape on his webcam – 2016

  • You can buy webcam covers that close & open on amazon

  • EFF has a HOWTO and even makes stickers for covering your camera

• Government rules / use of similar attacks:

  • A school system in PA used the web cam to spy on a kid at home in 2010 and he got in trouble because the mike-n-ike candies he was eating looked like pills

  • Government security rules suggesting disabling ‘sensor’ functions on mobile devices, including cameras

  • German law enforcement was reportedly activating web cams in 2011.

  • 2014 report from Snowden / the Intercept about NSA programs to use webcam for spying

• Examples of how the attacks work:

  • 2011 Adobe flash vulnerability that allowed attackers to use webcam

  • Sydney Morning Herald – 2013 about RATs