How a Camera Changed the Way I Look at Privacy
And why it should be covered
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Recently, I have been reflecting on what got me into learning more about online privacy in the first place. Before, I never thought about it much, but now I remember how it all goes back to my college days when I was working remotely in the IT department.
I was on a video call when all of a sudden the camera light turned on, even though I specifically told WebEx I did NOT want it on. I was freaking out and spent the whole call using my thumb to cover the camera. Once the call was over, I immediately covered it with duck tape. I don’t know if it was a software or hardware issue that happened, but it really scared me. If it wasn’t for that light, I would have never known the camera was on.
This incident led me to look into buying a proper camera shutter for my work and personal laptops. This would eventually lead me down a rabbit hole of online privacy. What started as learning more about how to properly protect myself on video calls turned into something more. I started learning about VPNs, private email providers, and just in general how easily our privacy and data have been taken advantage of by individuals, companies, and governments. It has all led me to where I am now: still gaining knowledge and sharing with others so they know what’s at stake.
Looking back now, it’s funny how the little cameras on our laptops that are always staring at us are responsible for putting me on the path to taking back my privacy and being more careful online. What started out as trying to cover my camera turned into a quest to protect my privacy. It's not an easy one, but to protect myself and others, it’s an important one I shall accept.
Until Next Time,
Monique 🔐
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