Should You Cover Your Laptop Camera When It’s Not in Use?

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.