Hackers are turning on your webcams without you knowing

hackers are now able to control your webcam from the other side of the world (Picture: ALAMY)

We all get told to use passwords on our laptops, smartphones and technology, well now we know why.
Hackers have been found taking pictures and videos of unsuspecting people in their homes and posting them online according to the Government’s Information Commissioner.

University student, Rachel Hyndman, was sitting in the bath watching a DVD when she saw the red-light on her webcam turn on.

Speaking to BBC radio 5 live, she said: ‘I was in the bath, trying to relax, and then programs on my computer came on like a ghost was using it.

‘It was terrifying to think people had been looking at me without me knowing.’

According to the Daily Mail, there are websites on the other side of the world in Russia where hackers have posted up images and videos of people sitting in their conservatories, their living rooms and driveways.

This has raised fears that burglars will use these hacking techniques to find out where people keep their valuables when a property is empty.

There are fears burglars will use this technique to know when homes are empty (Picture: ALAMY)

Emma Carr from Big Brother Watch spoke of this increasing problem: ‘Few people would leave their front doors unlocked, yet failing to password protect your devices carries the same risks to both their privacy and security.

‘As the capability of these devices becomes increasingly sophisticated, it is inevitable that users will inadvertently expose themselves and their lives to hackers.’