Privacy: can someone really spy on you through your camera?

Privacy and your camera: how to keep prying eyes out

Do you ever belt out a song in front of the mirror, or scroll through Facebook on the toilet? Then the thought of someone watching through your camera probably feels creepy. The truth is: yes, it’s technically possible. But with a few simple steps, you can make sure it never happens to you. So when can people actually spy through your camera, and what can you do to prevent it?

Can hackers really access your camera?

Unfortunately, yes. If your laptop or phone isn’t properly protected, someone with bad intentions could gain access to your camera or microphone. This is often called “camfecting.”

It’s rare, but it does happen. Security firm Kaspersky has reported cases of large-scale webcam hacks, and a few years ago, a YouTube livestream even showed hundreds of compromised home cameras.

And the more internet-connected devices we have, the more vulnerable we become: from smartphones, laptops, and tablets to smart doorbells, baby monitors, drones, and even toy robots.

Why do criminals spy on people?

Most of the time, it’s about money. Hackers may try to steal or record private photos and videos and then use them for blackmail or extortion. Others target businesses, trying to access confidential data during video calls. In some cases, it’s personal, motivated by curiosity or obsession. There have even been cases involving hacked webcams of public figures and pageant winners.

But doesn’t the camera light turn on when it’s recording?

Usually, yes. But not always. Hackers can disable the indicator light on laptops so you won’t even notice when the camera is active. On MacBooks, this is harder to do since the light is connected to the hardware, but researchers have shown that older models can still be manipulated.

How hackers get access to your camera

People can only spy on you in two situations:

1. There’s a security vulnerability in your software.
2. You’ve accidentally installed malware or spyware on your device.

1. Security vulnerabilities

Sometimes a flaw in your operating system or app lets hackers in. Once they're inside your device, they can remotely control your camera or microphone. These vulnerabilities occur less often on iPhones and MacBooks than on Android or Windows devices.

Tips to protect your privacy:

• Always install software and system updates right away, they often fix security issues.
• Keep your phone or laptop clean: the fewer apps you install, the smaller the risk of leaks.
• Only download apps from the official app stores (Apple App Store or Google Play). Apps outside these platforms are not verified and can be unsafe.

2. Malware

Malware is malicious software that can infect your computer or smartphone through unsafe browsing, phishing emails, or infected USB sticks. Once installed, it can take control of your webcam or microphone. Malware like LuminosityLink and NanoCore has infected hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.

Tips to stay safe:

• Use a reliable antivirus program (for example, AVG ). Even free versions of security software offer strong protection. Our suggestion for your mobile device is F-Secure, free and available on both Apple and Android .
• Be cautious with email attachments and pop-ups, and think twice before downloading software that seems too good to be true.
• On smartphones, apps from official stores are usually safe, but check permissions. If a weather app with no reviews asks for camera access, delete it immediately.

Other essential privacy tips

• Use unique, strong passwords to keep hackers from gaining easy access to your accounts, devices or even a file or log in your local storage.
• Fully shut down your laptop instead of leaving it in sleep mode, webcams can sometimes still be activated remotely while sleeping.
• Install security software on both your laptop and smartphone. A reliable antivirus or all-in-one security app can automatically run a malware scan, block malicious apps, and warn you before they can access your webcam settings or microphone.
• Keep your software and apps up to date. Enable automatic updates and turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible. It only takes a few seconds to set up, but it adds a powerful extra layer of protection.
• If you ever notice strange pop-ups, sudden battery drain, or apps you don’t remember installing, don’t ignore them. Uninstall anything suspicious right away.

Spyware and “stalkerware”

Another threat is spyware, sometimes called stalkerware. Apps or tools like FlexiSPY allow someone (a jealous partner, an employer, or even a parent) to secretly install software on your phone. Once active, they can access your camera, microphone, text messages, and even your live location.

How to detect stalkerware:

• Open your phone’s settings > apps and check for names you don’t recognize.
• You might see a message that says “Unknown user has superuser access.” That’s a red flag.
• Your screen stays on longer than usual, your battery drains faster, or your phone becomes noticeably slow or freezes.

If you suspect spyware, the best fix is to reset your device to factory settings.

The simplest solution: cover and mute

The easiest and safest fix? Cover your camera. Even if the risk is small, a piece of tape or a sliding webcam cover means nobody can peek through. You can buy small, stylish covers that slide open when you need your camera.

You can use a dummy plug, basically a cut-off headset jack, for your microphone. When plugged in, your device switches to the “fake” microphone, which can’t record any sound.

And no, this isn’t paranoid, just smart. Even Mark Zuckerberg and former FBI director James Comey cover their webcams. It takes seconds to do, but could save you from serious privacy issues like sextortion (blackmail using intimate footage).