您应该遮盖摄像头吗？

The rapid growth of remote and home-working has led to many users getting webcams or setting up Zoom equipment in their own homes, often in rooms or parts of the house where there wasn’t previously a computer.

In 2016 Mark Zuckerberg inadvertently brought attention to the risks of users being covertly monitored through their computer’s webcams or mics when he posted a now-infamous photo of his desk setup, showing his laptop with a covered webcam and blocked mic. If even the creator of Facebook blocks his, who else does? Many people, it turned out, including former FBI director James Comey.

重新审视风险...

Plenty has changed since then both in terms of improvements to security, but also in terms of risks, and we’re going to take a short look at the best practise to stay secure with your computer’s webcam and mic. The fears people talked about in the past, of ending up beholden to remote blackmailers are much less likely than problems closer to home, such as spousal stalkerware.

A host of these products have sprung up over recent years, and increasingly manage to sneak into otherwise safe environments. Even seemingly reputable news sources fall prey to this, with Apple News running content from Pocketlint, explicitly geared around illegal remote monitoring. There is, sadly, a market for this sort of content and product.

也就是说，用户的隐私可能会因简单的事故而被破坏，并且没有恶意的意图。很多Zoom用户尚未意识到他们的摄像头已打开，或者在加入Zoom呼叫时，呼叫主机可能已将呼叫配置为从用户摄像头开启开始。此外，可以在关闭摄像机的情况下加入“缩放”呼叫，在呼叫开始之前将其放置在等候室中，然后在主机允许用户加入呼叫后打开摄像机。

There are only a few video apps where the host can remotely enable video if the participant has turned it off after the start of the call, and Zoom is safe in this regard. It does, however, have a feature whereby the host can remotely unmute a participant’s microphone. If you’re in the habit of stepping away from your computer on long calls to get a cup of coffee whilst muted, beware that you might be unmuted without knowing about it. Similarly, if you’re joining the call from a room with other people around, their unexpected presence in your background may cause them embarrassment if they’re not expecting to be broadcast.

These inadvertent risks can be handled with a few simple precautions: covering or physically disconnecting a webcam makes things more obvious, and having a mic with a physical mute button helps.

那么Alexa或HomePod呢？

Plenty of users have an Alexa or HomePod device in their home, or other forms of smart devices like thermostats or security cameras. These are all capable of broadcasting video or audio captured within the home. It’s very hard to keep tabs on these, and ultimately one must either trust the company making them or not. Both Amazon and Apple home devices may be listened to by staff in some circumstances, though there are controls that can enable users to opt in or out of parts of this.

如果一个人在家中拥有智能设备，则明智地表现为好像正在录制自己的音频。这可能是相当大的负担。从小型，不受信任或未知的厂商那里购买智能设备绝不是一个好主意。谁知道他们的安全感如何？

保持安全的重要秘诀

Here’s a set of best practises we’d recommend for all users:

• 遮盖摄像头很重要 will serve as a reminder to think about security whilst using the computer. Realistically, you’re more likely to inadvertently broadcast yourself without knowing than you are to be remotely monitored by anyone else, and a cover helps make that risk obvious. Anything that makes you more security conscious is likely a good idea. You’ll see no end of ads online trying to sell plastic webcam covers: these are junk, and you don’t need them. A 一块胶带或粘滞便笺就足够了对于马克·扎克伯格（Mark Zuckerberg）来说，它会很好地为您服务。残留的残留物将很容易清除。此外，设计精良的笔记本电脑将没有足够的空间来关闭damaging themselves当附加的塑料盖粘在上面时。
• 更好的是，使用外部物理连接的摄像头和音频设备。依靠外部麦克风和摄像头，可以很清楚地知道它们是否物理连接到计算机。这样做的好处是，您可以永久封锁设备的内置摄像头和麦克风。迷彩就是这样的产品的一个很好的例子，并具有大大提高用户加入呼叫时所获得的质量的额外好处。当心需要安装驱动程序的产品，或者来自未知或不受信任来源的产品。
• 不使用计算机时请合上笔记本计算机或关闭计算机电源，这将使人们更难或无法远程访问笔记本计算机。
• If you step away from your Zoom call whilst muted to make a coffee, beware that a host might remotely unmute you without your knowing. If your mic has a physical mute button you’ll be OK. But if you’re using AirPods, or an internal mic, there’s no mute that can override Zoom’s settings. If you’re on a call, always assume you might be overheard.
• 保持软件为最新，尤其是手机和计算机上的主要软件以及您使用的任何浏览器。
• 不要禁用计算机的防火墙或恶意软件。如今，默认情况下，几乎所有类型的计算机和电话都启用了这些功能，除了用于监视网络摄像头的特定产品以外，几乎不需要安装其他软件（请参见上文）。
• 注意您的背景。如果其他人可能闲逛，或者您周围有乱七八糟的东西或私人物品，请考虑在通话时隐藏背景。
• 请注意一般安全性最佳做法，并确保安全存储已拍摄的任何视频，音频或照片。
• 不要让任何人不信任使用或修理您的任何设备。谁知道他们可能会安装或更改它们。