Is a webcam secure?

kvrdave · 11-07-07, 03:34 PM

My brother-in-law has a new webcam that his wife's mother gave them because they have family in Italy and Romania. Anyway, I'm on live messenger with him chatting, and it is pretty cool. I don't have one, so I could only see him. He is a school administrator and his wife is a teacher. He goes on a fair amount of conferences and was talking about he and his wife being semi-nasty on it when they chatted while he was away. I didn't ask details, because I didn't want to know, but I said, "Dude, there are a million webcam videos on the internet, and I doubt they all put them there willingly. I don't know how secure they are, but I wouldn't risk that."

He freaked a bit. So how secure are they and is there a way to make them secure. He currently just plugs it in, and it works with Live Messenger.

Decadance · 11-07-07, 03:52 PM

Nothing on the internet is secure 100%. However, webcams directly connected via MSN work like sending one file directly from one user to another, they are not routed through any public venue. I am sure they could theoretically be intercepted, but the only thing I would make sure of is no malicious software on either computer. Without that, the risk is relatively small.

Think of it this way, it would be the equivalent for someone looking for something they didn't know existed, especially if the screen names are only know to the two users.

DVD Josh · 11-07-07, 04:06 PM

kvrdave · 11-07-07, 04:15 PM

Okay, I'll let him know that. Will probably make him feel better. I assume all the webcam stuff that shows up on the internet is stuff that was recorded, or sold, or done for the purposes of porn, and not snatched out of the ether.

guest · 09-10-09, 11:52 PM

Those videos you watch are mostly some one recording there own connection.

Deftones · 09-11-09, 12:03 AM

registered 5 years ago and 1st post?

Numanoid · 09-11-09, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvrdave

I assume all the webcam stuff that shows up on the internet is stuff that was recorded, or sold, or done for the purposes of porn, and not snatched out of the ether.

Correct. That stuff is either recorded by one or both parties then distributed willingly or maliciously (getting back at the ex who stripped for you once), or (often fake) "amateur" porn.

Groucho · 09-11-09, 02:52 PM

Throw a towel over if you're walking around naked in the room...JUST IN CASE.

Tsar Chasm · 09-11-09, 03:26 PM

The NSA can turn the camera on whenever they want. They can even turn the computer on to record the webcam's field of view. It was a Bush Administration program.No Webcams Left Behind or something like that.

ernestrp · 09-11-09, 04:53 PM

I bought a laptop that had a built in webcam this summer and turned it on a couple of times but I only sall myself and turned it off. Totally useless but I do have a web cam thing.

mikehunt · 09-11-09, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deftones

registered 5 years ago and 1st post?

and a 2 year bump at that

twikoff · 09-11-09, 06:02 PM

well.. he is just a guest

Dr Mabuse · 09-11-09, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deftones

registered 5 years ago and 1st post?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehunt

and a 2 year bump at that

Weird stuff.

11-07-07, 03:34 PM	#1
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 79,313	Is a webcam secure? My brother-in-law has a new webcam that his wife's mother gave them because they have family in Italy and Romania. Anyway, I'm on live messenger with him chatting, and it is pretty cool. I don't have one, so I could only see him. He is a school administrator and his wife is a teacher. He goes on a fair amount of conferences and was talking about he and his wife being semi-nasty on it when they chatted while he was away. I didn't ask details, because I didn't want to know, but I said, "Dude, there are a million webcam videos on the internet, and I doubt they all put them there willingly. I don't know how secure they are, but I wouldn't risk that." He freaked a bit. So how secure are they and is there a way to make them secure. He currently just plugs it in, and it works with Live Messenger. __________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

11-07-07, 03:52 PM	#2
Decadance DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 1,598	Nothing on the internet is secure 100%. However, webcams directly connected via MSN work like sending one file directly from one user to another, they are not routed through any public venue. I am sure they could theoretically be intercepted, but the only thing I would make sure of is no malicious software on either computer. Without that, the risk is relatively small. Think of it this way, it would be the equivalent for someone looking for something they didn't know existed, especially if the screen names are only know to the two users. __________________ Testing Peoples Apathy

11-07-07, 04:06 PM	#3
DVD Josh DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: In My Own Little World Posts: 19,359	__________________ *DVDTALK GOLD TRADER* http://www.invelos.com/dvdcollection.aspx/cwrujosh

11-07-07, 04:15 PM	#4
kvrdave DVD Talk God Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 79,313	Okay, I'll let him know that. Will probably make him feel better. I assume all the webcam stuff that shows up on the internet is stuff that was recorded, or sold, or done for the purposes of porn, and not snatched out of the ether. __________________ Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. - C.S. Lewis

09-10-09, 11:52 PM	#5
guest New Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 5	Re: Is a webcam secure? Those videos you watch are mostly some one recording there own connection.

09-11-09, 12:03 AM	#6
Deftones DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 59,455	Re: Is a webcam secure? registered 5 years ago and 1st post? __________________ John Henson: McDonald's has dumped Kobe Bryant as their spokesperson and have replaced him with Yao Ming. Apparently McDonald's prefers Yao because he is a bigger international star, and he doesn't rape so much. "You are everything that's wrong with this forum".---SleepyW

09-11-09, 02:52 PM	#8
Groucho Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 62,437	Re: Is a webcam secure? Throw a towel over if you're walking around naked in the room...JUST IN CASE. __________________ Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho "The Borg is a species" -- Tracer Bullet (Citation)

09-11-09, 03:26 PM	#9
Tsar Chasm DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: PDX Metro Posts: 8,951	Re: Is a webcam secure? The NSA can turn the camera on whenever they want. They can even turn the computer on to record the webcam's field of view. It was a Bush Administration program.No Webcams Left Behind or something like that.

09-11-09, 04:53 PM	#10
ernestrp DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,390	Re: Is a webcam secure? I bought a laptop that had a built in webcam this summer and turned it on a couple of times but I only sall myself and turned it off. Totally useless but I do have a web cam thing.

09-11-09, 06:02 PM	#12
twikoff DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Right Behind You!!! Posts: 79,379	Re: Is a webcam secure? well.. he is just a guest __________________ Do you live in Idaho or Wyoming? If so, its time to Check In!