FBI Director James Comey says you should cover your computer’s webcam with tape or a sticker to discourage hackers from peeking at you and your stuff. Really.
Even though he has been mocked for it, Comey said he still covers his webcam and believes it should be common practice, according to The Hill.
"There's some sensible things you should be doing, and that's one of them," Comey said on Wednesday at a Center for Strategic and International Studies conference. "You go into any government office and we all have the little camera things that sit on top of the screen. They all have a little lid that closes down on them. You do that so that people who don't have authority don't look at you. I think that's a good thing."
Comey said at an encryption and privacy question and answer session at Ohio's Kenyon College in April that he originally got the idea of covering his computer's webcam from "something in the news," said the Daily Mail.
"I put a piece of tape — I have obviously a laptop, personal laptop — I put a piece of tape over the camera . . . because I saw somebody smarter than I am had a piece of tape over their camera," Comey said.
The FBI director was mocked by some on social media.
"But many have commented on the director's hypocrisy in doing this when he has said technology companies should not make devices that are 'unhackable' to law enforcement," said Daily Mail writers Libby Plummer and Alexandra Genova. "Activists argue that by putting tape over his webcam, he is doing just that. Earlier this year, the FBI dropped its court case attempting to force Apple to hack into an iPhone belonging to the San Bernardino terrorists."
Comey said despite some ridicule, he continues to tape over the webcam, noted The Hill.
"I hope people lock their cars," Comey said. "Lock your doors at night . . . if you have an alarm system, you should use it. It's not crazy that the FBI director cares about personal security as well. So I think people ought to take responsibility for their own safety and security."
The Daily Mail pointed out a photo that circulated in June of Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg with pieces of tape over his Macbook's camera and audio jack to show that Comey was not alone in his concerns about hackers.
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