How to Disable Your Webcam

Webcams are wonderful tools for communication.  One of my friends has a husband who is currently in Afghanistan, and he is able to use his webcam and Skype to see his wife and kids from the other side of the world.  I have to use a webcam to verify my identity while I am taking tests for a certification I am working toward.

However, for every useful tool, someone will figure out how to use it against you.  This is certainly true of your webcam.  The FBI and NSA have both admitted that they know how to activate your computer's webcam or your phone's front-facing camera without any indicator lights.  Peeping Toms can use the same methods to see inside of your house.  In fact, software that could help someone gain access to a computer's webcam was available on the dark web last year for only $40.

Here are three ways to make sure that no one can spy on your webcam:

1) Unplug It - If you have an external webcam, no amount of software will plug it back in if you unplug it.  This is easily the best way to protect yourself with an external camera.  However, if you have a laptop with a built-in camera, this option is not available.

2) Disable It - You can disable your webcam in Windows if you are unable to unplug it.  This is a great solution if you do not plan to use it, but it can be a hassle if you regularly use your camera.  To disable your camera, search for "Device Manager" in the start menu or charms bar.  Your webcam should appear under "Imaging Devices".  Right-click on the webcam and select "Disable" if it is available.

3) Cover It - If you are unable to unplug or disable your webcam, you can always use this solution to maintain your privacy.  Cover up your webcam with a post-it note, a piece of opaque tape, or something else that will keep anyone from snooping through your camera.  I use a piece of post-it note tape to cover the webcam on my laptop, and then I remove it when I need to use the camera.  Even if someone gains access to my camera, they will be greeted by a piece of green tape instead of any picture.