Security researcher Andrey Konovalov has developed software that enabled him to demonstrate that malware can disable the webcam indicator light. He did so at a security conference in Seoul.
Users can be filmed this way without even noticing. Physical access to the user's system is not necessary to turn off the webcam's light. The software developed by Konovalov reflashes the camera's firmware. This allows a hacker to control the indicator light and make recordings with the webcam.
Konovalov used a ThinkPad X230 in his demonstration. However, he says the way to flash the firmware also works on many laptops of other brands. "Putting a sticker on the webcam of your laptop is not so paranoid," the researcher said.
Over a decade ago, it was reported that the FBI was able to turn on the webcam of computers without activating the light. The U.S. investigative agency is said to have used this technology on several occasions.
