Peeping Tom Worm That Uses Webcams

Ant writes "The Register mentions a new Windows worm known as Rbot-GR that is currently circulating accross the net. It has the capability to spy on users using webcams. " I'm surprised that it took this long.

*NEWS FLASH* Sudden Surge in Amateur Pornography

[StarWreck]

*NEWS FLASH* There has been a sudden surge in Amateur Pornography. Many of the new porn Starlets are trained so well they act as though they don't even know the camera is on!

Heh...

[FortKnox]

Instead of fixes, I'll be expecting apps to pop up that allows you to view the victims. Some people will really get a kick outta this.

Where Do I Look Up the Infected?

[severoon]

Anyone have any idea where these infected machines are listed? Can we get a peek? Cuz I just know that like 90% of unsuspecting hot women like to undress in front of their web cams!

This is an idiotic virus, isn't it? Didn't the author take into account that way more than 99% of the time, webcams aren't pointed at anything interesting?

Physical Security?

[bamberg]

Seems like physical security is the only way to be truly certain that your webcam isn't spying on you. Unplug it or cover it up or something when it isn't in use.

I wonder how long it'll be before web sites start popping up with unauthorized videos from hijacked webcams.

That's why you should...

[Jason1729]

put black electrical tape over the lens when not using the camera. I thought most people did something to cover the lens or plug the camera.

Jason
ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]

Re:Spy on Nerds?!

[Billy the Mountain]

Heh, Thing is, this is going to be a law enforcment windfall. A certain segment of low-intelligence script-kiddie (This dude comes to mind [katu.com]) is going to say "that's rad!" and thousands of these idiots are going to be ogling their way into the "crowbar hotel" for an extended stay.

BTM

Re:Sub Seven...

[bugnuts]

Aye, but be wary of using Backorifice... the encryption is about as trivial as rot13, so anyone can root your box.

I don't know what kind of protections sub7 gives, but I'd be wary of that, too. Generally, these programs were written by hax0rz ... definitely not cryptographers.

Old news? Here? Shocking!

[Minwee]

That concept is hardly new. Back In The Day, Sun workstations used to ship with live microphones built in to the case which had open access rights. Want to listen to a meeting in someone's office? Just telnet to their desktop.

It's not quite the same as a camera, but it was twenty years ago.

Re:Physical Security?

[windex]

The silly part, to me, is that newer webcams have:

a) privacy shades that go over the lens, as part of the camera

b: LED's that light up when the camera is 'in use'.

What I don't get is that people are buying webcams without at least those two basic features? I have a logitech quickcam pro and it even lights up when JUST the microphone interface is being accessed.

Re:Where Do I Look Up the Infected?

[Anonymous Coward]

Didn't the author take into account that way more than 99% of the time, webcams aren't pointed at anything interesting?

Broadband; on all the time, unless they disable it for changing their clothes. Which they won't.

Webcam; plugged in all the time, unless they disable it for changing their clothes. Which they won't.

Angle of view; typically wide-angle, covering large proportion of the room. Likely to capture anyone getting changed in that room, unless they cover the camera up for changing their clothes. Which they won't.

Camera on PC in bedroom + Some Patience --> Sleazy geekboy thrills.

We're being punished

[revscat]

The editors are pissed about something and decided to punish everyone, guilty or innocent, by using the IT color scheme.

Re:Where Do I Look Up the Infected?

[Have Blue]

It's the same principle as spamming: Sure, 99% of your attempts come to nothing, but the cost is virtually zero, and if you can find the fraction of a percent worth finding, you win.

Re:Sub Seven...

[Erik Hensema]

Encryption is a bit overrated since it's pratically impossible to snoop into a tcp connection on the real internet. And when it's possible, it still has to be done. By someone who gives a damn (eg. not a professional sysadmin). Heck, with all those exploits in openssh, telnet may be the safer option.

However, I still prefer my connections encrypted, you never know ;-)

Re:In other news...

[Sethb]

C: What kind of stupid prudes are more concerned that they might be seen naked, than that their box has just been rooted? An article today said that if you've got the cams with the shutters you can close, then it's not as bad. Uh, hello, I'm much more concerned about keyloggers, or someone reading my e-mail, and IM traffic than I am about someone seeing me in the buff. Mildly embarassing? Sure, but I'll take inadverntent nudity any day over having my bank account drained or losing my job because some gained access through my system to a critical box at work...