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We’ve tried numerous things regarding webcams in our offices.  Turning a webcam into a live “nanny”cam, including remotely, is the safest we will post in a public forum.  We are publishing this information in the safest manner possible while still making our readers aware that this set-up can be performed by anyone with a modicum of computer usage know-how or tech awareness.

First, we’d like to address several concerns.

1. Webcam hacking.  Yes, but rare.  Your PC security, set up correctly,  should be able to easily handle any webcam hack attempts. Many newer laptops are offering modesty screens that are manually flipped over/off of the cameras.

2. Permission.  Your home, your rules.  However, elsewhere and at work, check with your host or someone who may know as to whether you can use your webcam.  (In most homes and offices, there is a designated area for guests to access their webcams.  Remember, when one is receiving, one can also be transmitting.)

3. Can the webcam’s “On/Off” display light be bypassed?  Yes.

- A webcam can be taken apart and put back together sans active indicator  light, full video recording functional.

- The indicator light can simply be disguised with black tape.

- There are downloadable programs that allow the indicator light to remain off, even though the web/now  nanny cam, is very much on.

Back to our topic at hand – how to convert a webcam into a nanny cam and from an offsite location in two easy steps.

1. Download motion sensor software.  ( NOTE: TEBOWEB’S CAM CONVERSION PROGRAM IS OPEN SOURCED.  USE FOR PRACTICE ONLY.)  In this category, TeboWeb is the easiest, most efficient to work with at this stage, and also offers very brief but comprehensive tutorials via YouTube.  Posted is the first in the series:  “Familiarization”.) 

and then, to access remotely,

2. Download a remote access program.  (E.g.: LogMeIn.)

Our objective in this week’s Bulletin is to enable the reader’s comprehension of the ease with which one can watch – or be watched.

One more bit of advice, having acquired this knowledge over years of field experience, there is one rule we practice here in the office with all visitors  – no cameras or phones during meetings!!!!  If you think you are safe from being videotaped in your own home or office by allowing only cell phones,  think again.  With bridge software, the above (and most) motion detector and log in programs can easily go operational via a smartphone.

BNI Operatives: A step ahead.

As always, stay safe.

Filed under: cameras | Tagged: logmein, Motion detection, nanny cam, nannycam, Office, Remote access, Streaming media, tebo, teboware, Webcam | 6 Comments »