According to Steve Blair, CR’s lead privacy and security researcher, it’s possible for webcams to be hacked and set to record audio and/or video without your knowledge.
The odds of that happening to an everyday consumer (as opposed to a high-profile target like an activist or government worker) are probably low. But if you’re concerned, you can cover the camera with a bit of tape when it’s not in use.
You can also buy stick-on laptop camera covers that slide shut. Some laptops, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad and the MSI Prestige (below), have built-in privacy covers for their webcams.
Even if the camera is covered, the built-in mic could still pick up audio. To address that, you can go into the system settings and switch the default microphone to a different device, like a USB headset or an external microphone, then simply disconnect or turn off that device.
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