Find out how hackers put spy cameras onto your laptops!
Privacy matters
In this day and age, the concept of privacy is increasingly becoming threatened. However, a new phenomenon looks like it’s set to kill the concept of privacy altogether. The worrying new phenomenon is known as ‘ratting’ and it can arbitrary be defined as the crime of a hacker gaining control over your laptop by installing a spy camera on your laptop. Anyone is capable of ‘ratting’ as no extensive knowledge or specialised skills are needed. In fact, it is alarmingly easy for people to install a spy camera on your laptop as ‘spy software’ can easily be found on cyberspace, complete with simple instructions on how to utilise it. Hackers either manually install a spy camera on your laptop within minutes or attach a virus to an email sent to you.
Method
Hackers are able to activate the spy camera on your laptop without you being aware of it as the only indicator will probably be some light emitted from your webcam which you are likely to overlook. This implies a huge invasion of your privacy as the voyeur is able to observe you through the spy camera on your laptop without you being aware of it. What makes ‘ratting’, especially worry-some is that it is not merely an innocuous infringement of privacy. Videos and pictures of victims using the laptop are often uploaded and shared online, often on adult forums and websites. [pullquote]
Armed with the access to your personal laptops, the hacker knows a lot of your personal information ranging from your friends and family to your hobbies and lifestyle.
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Shocking cases of ratting
What makes “ratting” even more outrageous is that the victims of ‘ratting’ are often called slaves as their laptops have been enslaved by the hacker. There are numerous examples of shocking cases of ‘ratting’ reported and below we showcase 3 of them.
Case 1:
In this case, a YouTube video shows footage of the victim using the laptop with her son in the living room. Then suddenly without warning, vulgarities and crude sexual comments are then blasted out of the speakers of the laptop rendering both the mother and son horrified and shocked.
This innocent mother is not alone. There are many other YouTube videos which capture the shocked reactions from victims of ‘ratting’ when they lose control over their laptops. This, thus, shows that apart from some sick sexual gratification, hackers also aim to shame and embarrass their victims.
Any of these three cases could happen to you! Beware of a spy camera on your laptop!
Case 2:
In this case, 32-year old London-based architect Jacalyn Burn laptop was ‘ratted’ for 8 weeks without her knowing. During that period, the hacker would send out emails in her name to her friends and family. It was only when a co-worker questioned her over an email sent by the hacker in Jacalyn’s name did she find out something was amiss. In the end, it was revealed that it was a former colleague who had hacked into her laptop.
Case 3:
In this case, an attractive blonde woman is shocked to discover that she now ‘belongs’ to a pornographic website when mysterious words start appearing on the screen informing her of her new ‘occupation’ as an online porn star.
This is not an isolated case as there are numerous pictures and videos of women dressed skimpily in their nightdresses or in the bathroom using their laptops being uploaded onto adult websites.
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Solution
Here are 5 tips to protect yourself from being observed by a spy camera from your laptop without your consent.
1. Obtain efficient and reliable anti-virus software.
2. Place a black tape over your webcam when you are not using it.
3. Do not open suspicious looking emails.
4. Alert your friends and family if you receive a suspicious email or message from them.
5. Be alert. If light is coming out of your webcam when not in use, then something is wrong.
Were you ever a victim of a spy camera on your laptop? Tell us about it. For more on protecting your kids online, watch this video:
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