By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Someone could be spying on you through your webcam, and you may not even know it
43556c1842eac0e92a5408ec98ec172d6d20eb2c70a62d43737323f7f579dded
All it takes is clicking on the wrong link, and you could download malware that allows someone else to take over your computer. Hackers can then steal info, and take photos and videos using your webcam, without you ever knowing someone was watching. - photo by Amy Iverson
Oftentimes when I open up my laptop in a public setting, someone will ask, Why do you have a piece of tape over your camera? I never had have a firm answer, except that once I saw my green camera light go on when I hadnt engaged it. It freaked me out, and Id heard stories of weirdos hacking into laptops and spying on users through their own webcams, so I figured Id just cover it up. Its been like that for years, leading some to think Im a bit paranoid. But now, Im recommending that everyone do it.

Youd be in good company too. After Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg posted a photo of himself last year, observers on Twitter noticed a piece of tape covering his webcam. The Hill newspaper reported in 2016 that then Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said all government offices have camera covers on their screens. He went on to say that its common sense and basically everyone should be doing it.

Hackers are indeed able to gain access to your screen, webcam, microphone and more through something called a remote administration tool (RAT). Creepy! These do have legitimate uses, like when an IT professional gains access to your computer to fix it. But hackers (or ratters) also use this tool to steal information from your computer, play pranks on you, or use your webcam to grab videos and photos of whoever is in front of the computer.

How does a RAT get on your computer? Hackers can trick people into downloading the malware through apps, or sneaky emails or social media posts that may say something like, I cant believe this picture of you I saw online! If you click, you download the RAT. Mashable reports people also accidentally click bad links or download the wrong file, which can also cause your computer to download the malware.

It turns out I was lucky to see my webcams light go on. Whether or not someone was hacking into my camera, it made me think of the possibility. Consider a 2013 Johns Hopkins study that discovered how to get malware onto someones laptop and use it to video from the webcam without turning on the LED indicator. That same year, The Wall Street Journal reported that the FBI requested to use this method to spy on someone suspected of bank fraud (a federal judge denied the request).

The FBI suggests a few things to do to avoid a RAT including carefully choosing what you click and download onto your computer, making sure you have security software on all your devices, and that operating systems are all up to date.

How to know if a RAT is already on your computer

There is a wide array of possibilities when it comes to indicators of this type of malware. Ken Colburn is founder/CEO of Data Doctors and wrote in the Arizona Republic to look for odd computer behavior such as: cursors moving around by themselves, webcam indicator lights turning on at random times, text-based chat windows that appear unexpectedly, and a noticeable slowing of computer functions.

What to do if you suspect a RAT

The New Media Institute explains that you should immediately disconnect from the internet and run an anti-virus scan. After that, check all installed software to look for anything out of the ordinary, and get rid of it.

And if you do suspect something and want to follow in my footsteps, go ahead and just grab a piece of duct tape and slap it on. While it may be inelegant, it does the trick. For more aesthetically pleasing options, Slate tested and reviewed other things to cover up the webcam, including washi tape, stickers, and post-it notes. And if you want to get really fancy, Amazon has all sorts of webcam covers for under $20, and many that even slide back and forth, allowing webcam use when you need it.

Unless you Skype a lot with your computer, I cant imagine many times when you even need your laptop webcam. So head to your junk drawer and find something to cover it up already.
Sign up for our e-newsletters
New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
15a28f62e4e53fcceb32746533cbdfdf48abb7c7d42a28dbb1aeb1083721f23b
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
Latest Obituaries