It's pretty much impossible these days to buy a new laptop device or tablet that DOESN'T have a built-in webcam (and microphone). More video-enabled devices on the networks implies more opportunity for remote webcam "hacking" by curious and/or malicious voyeurs / hackers. Unfortunately it's all too easy for your personal privacy to be violated; anyone with enough knowledge and motive can hack into your laptop while it's online and remotely turn on your webcam providing them the ability to see, hear, and record whatever is in view from your laptop.

Do you really want someone seeing, recording and posting to the web what you are doing and wearing while you are sitting at your computer (and when you are in view of the computer camera)? How about the conversations that take place around your computer? Do you leave your laptop or computer on when you are not using it and just go about your normal business?

It might surprise you to know, that most hackers are going to be more interested in what they hear over the microphone than see on the webcam. While a voyeur may enjoy seeing some of the video, a true hacker is more interested in something they may be able to make money from or sell and the conversations are more productive to that end.

You few stories recently about tracking software used to find stolen laptops. Some of the stories are about how useful that kind of software can be, while other stories show how that kind of technology can be abused to potentially violate someone's privacy.

There are, however, other ways to remotely turn on a laptop's webcam. For one thing, there are many legitimate programs on the market that are used to control "nanny cams," or Webcams used at vacation homes and other remote locations. If someone has physical access to a computer, it would be possible to install this software and turn it on remotely. Web Cam Spy Hacker and Log Me In are popular software’s used

There are also programs such as GoToMyPC that are designed specifically to allow users to remotely control a machine via the Internet.

There are also Trojan horses and other malware programs that can be used to take remote control of a computer. There are several exploit kits out there that include rootkit functionality that allow (people) to interact with the operating system however they want, and that includes turning on specific services or running applications in the background that would include applications to watch webcams, record audio, or turn on a built-in internal microphone. Back Orifice (created in 1998 )was the first major to be used widely. The Subseven Trojan horse is another one use widely today.

There have also been a number of times (more than you might think) that people have been on cam and thought they shut it off and have not, they put on a good show for those watching!

The bottom line is that in order to protect yourself you should cover the camera when you are not using it. That can be as simple as black tape (some laptop computers use the camera as a light sensor so you will have to use an opaque tape to a more elaborate designed cover. For a free standing webcam you can make a cover or find something to fully cover the lens. Some Webcams like Logitech Quickcam comes with a modesty shield. This is a visor which flips down over the lens when you don’t want the camera to see anything. Don’t forget to unplug your microphone (or if it is built-in like with a lap top, plug a empty ¼” mono phone plug into the external microphone jack to disconnect the internal mic.) When you are not using your computer, turn it off!