Half the World is Going Paranoid. Here is Why You Should Be Too

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki @jakubzerdzicki on Unsplash

It wasn’t too long ago that I thought the only people who cover their webcams are people who also own a tinfoil hat. I imagined that they were paranoid people who acted out of suspicion rather than logic.

Way back in 2016 Zuckerberg was caught covering his laptop cam with tape. I thought he had substantially more to lose than me, so didn’t feel the need to follow suit.

Now I see that 49% of users from a Kaspersky survey cover webcams. 

Isn’t it time for all software developers to be more cautious?

The Rise of the Webcam Cover

Many of us are working from home. If you’re anything like me you have too many meetings, and sometimes even forget that you’re participating in a boring meeting (Zoom in the background, IDE in the foreground).

In my company, we don’t usually have cams turned on, and so I take the machine with me. Room to room. I’ve decided I don’t want the company seeing my laundry room, and that a webcam cover is required.

I accept this isn’t the reason why The Zuck is covering his camera. Most everyday folks are starting to realise that someone might be looking out of their webcams at any time, isn’t it time for us software developers to wake up and use the tape like Zuckerberg?

Developer Caution

As software developers we are more exposed than most.

The privileged access.

That might leave holes in your company's defenses that opens up your webcams to others.

In the same way, you shouldn’t leave your IDE open in the office for someone to press “delete” in the middle of your unfinished PR, you shouldn’t leave your webcam unprotected.

Dismissing this as paranoia is so 2011. If nearly half the population are taking steps to protect their privacy, it’s time you did too.

Developer Hygiene

Software developers are meticulous about so many aspects of their work.

And physical security should be part of this. No more leaving your laptop in the coffee shop and you “pop” to the toilet. No more backpacks on the floor in the bar. And no more leaving your webcam uncovered.

While you’re at it, have you thought about how to lock down that mic?

The threat is real, and it’s not going away. As developers, we’re often the first line of defense against cyber threats, but we’re also prime targets. Whether you’re working on a multi-million-dollar project or just tinkering with a side hustle, your privacy and security are non-negotiable.

Conclusion

Software developers can be incredibly lax about security, and about thinking of the consequences of their actions (in my experience).

This can be (shall we say) rather stressful all round. Don’t let it happen to you.

I use a bit of a Post-it note on my camera. Shouldn’t you too?