Apparently when you have a webcam installed on your computer, you may be vulnerable to other people spying on you. I don't know if you've heard about the case in PA where a family is suing their son's school district for allegedly spying on him via a school issued laptop.
The school, of course, claims they've done nothing wrong. However, the boy's parents received a call from the school stating their son had been caught in some "improper" behavior. The school administrator accused the boy of doing drugs or heck, maybe DEALING drugs, but as it turned out, they'd caught him on camera eating candy. It seems the boy is a big fan of Mike and Ikes!
So what does this mean? Is it easy for someone to spy on you via your webcam even when you think it's off? What if that school captured images of the students changing clothes or in other awkward positions?
As a parent, I'm livid that the school did this. There is an argument that paperwork was provided that stated they could track the computer if lost or stolen, however, apparently it doesn't state that they could turn on the webcam and watch your kids without them knowing.
That's as creepy as some stranger watching your kid without your knowledge. Why would any educational professional need that access? Not only that, but the police can't enter your house without a warrant, so why did the school think they could?
There was also that guy not long ago convicted of hacking into young girls' computers and watching them on their webcams. (I don't feel like digging up the link, but it did happen and it was freaky!)
There's a webcam on the netbook that I use sometimes. I think I'll be covering it up with a piece of paper from now on...I'm just creeped out!
