Webcams are standard equipment on smartphones, tablets, and notebooks. Many webcams have indicator lights that show when a camera is recording video. However, hackers can trick users into installing webcam spyware that turns off the activity light through a software hack or by changing configuration settings. So even if the activity light is off, the webcam can still record video and someone on the Internet can watch you back.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. To make absolutely sure that no one is watching you through your webcam, take some electrical tape and cover it up. If you don’t want any tape residue on the camera, use a longer strip of tape and fold it back. Even the best hacker in the world can’t beat electrical tape.

If you want a more advanced approach, roll a coin in the electrical tape so that the weight of the coin holds the tape above the camera. When you want to use the camera, lift the coin and fold it back over the top of the computer screen.

If you don't want to cover the camera, close your laptop when you're not using it or when you want to make sure you're not in the camera.