Why We All Must Consider Taping WebCam and Mic Jack Ports, Just Like Mark Did to His Laptop?

Mark Zuckerberg, shared a photo to his Facebook account, celebrating the growing user base of Instagram, which is owned by Facebook. Instagram – A Photo sharing social networking site, is also owned by Zuckerberg, who bought it with a whopping $1 Billion.

This is what Mark shared along with the photo;

More than 500 million people now use Instagram every month — and 300 million every day. The Instagram community has more than doubled over the past two years. This is a tribute to Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger‘s vision, and to people everywhere who have opened a window into their world — from big events to everyday moments. Thanks for making Instagram such a beautiful place.

So, what’s more interesting about this photo?

An eagle-eyed Twitter user named Chris Olson noticed that in the image’s background, his laptop camera and microphone jack appeared to be covered with tape.
3 things about this photo of Zuck:

1. Camera covered with tape
2. Mic jack covered with tape
3. Email client is Thunderbird

Reasons behind Taping Camera, Closing USB and Mic Jack ports:

The taped-over camera and microphone jack are usually a signal that someone is concerned, perhaps only vaguely, about hackers’ gaining access to his or her devices by using remote-access trojans — a process called “ratting.” (Remote access is not limited to ratters).

What is RATTLING?

A remote access Trojan (RAT) is a malware program that includes a back door for administrative control over the target computer. RATs are usually downloaded invisibly with a user-requested program — such as a game — or sent as an email attachment. Once the host system is compromised, the intruder may use it to distribute RATs to other vulnerable computers and establish a botnet.

Source.

Google, Facebook, NSA are listening to your conversation secretly says, Edward Snowden;

According to Source, the NSA uses a plug-in called GUMFISH to take over cameras on infected machines and snap photos.

Another NSA plug-in called CAPTIVATEDAUDIENCE hijacks the microphone on targeted computers to record conversations.

Additionally, there is also a news suspecting that Facebook listens to us through our Microphone and Speakers even when they are not in use by the account holder.

So, if Facebook is doing that, there might be chances of other Social Networking sites doing the same without our permission. Just, as a extra security measure mark has taped the Mic port as well.

Should you also consider this?

We all know that Mark is high value target. A recent hacking of his Twitter and LinkedIn accounts shows that he most likely committed two basic privacy faux pas: He may have used the same password across several websites and did not use two-factor authentication.

What you must do now?

1. It’s advised to Tape the WebCam when not in use. You can do that with any normal Tape.
2. Block your USB Ports and Mic Jack. If not blocking, do not insert some random Pendrives or Storage Devices which are borrowed from your Friends.
3. Last, but very important, make sure your system software programs and applications are up to date.