Everly's Camera: A Watchful Eye

The idea of someone watching you through your phone camera is extremely disturbing, and it is not paranoia to be worried about it. Your phone's camera is a prime spying tool, and digital privacy is not guaranteed. In a world of data-hungry corporations, cybercriminals, overstepping governments, and tech-savvy stalkers, it is important to be vigilant about potential privacy invasions. Cybercriminals (or jealous ex-partners) only need the right spyware and an entry point into your device, such as an outdated app, an infected link, or an unencrypted Wi-Fi connection. Once they have that, they can easily spy on you through your camera, microphone, and apps. While it may be difficult to know for sure if someone is watching you through your camera, there are some signs to look out for, such as strange camera activity, unfamiliar apps or files, excessive data usage, and background app activity. To protect yourself, it is important to practice good cyber hygiene, such as keeping your software up to date, removing old files and apps, and being cautious about suspicious links and attachments.

Strange camera activity

• Your phone camera turns on by itself, indicating that it is in use when it shouldn't be.
• You receive an error message saying your camera is already in use when you try to take a picture or make a video call.
• You find photos or videos on your device that you don't remember taking.
• Your camera runs slowly and the app crashes frequently.
• Third-party camera apps open on their own.

If you notice any of these issues, it's important to take steps to protect your privacy and secure your device. Updating and restarting your phone and apps can help determine whether the problem is due to faulty hardware or software issues. If the strange camera activity persists, it could indicate that someone is spying on you through your phone camera.

In addition to strange camera activity, there are other signs that may indicate potential spyware or malicious activity on your device. These include:

• Excessive data usage: Spyware often gathers and uploads data in the background without your knowledge, leading to increased data consumption.
• Unfamiliar apps or files: Cybercriminals may use unsecured or infected apps to install malware on your device.
• Background app activity: Spyware may appear as an app running in the background, or it may show suspicious activity in your battery usage or screen time settings.
• Strange sounds during calls: If you hear camera shutter sounds, static, clicking, or echoes during calls, it could indicate that someone is listening to or recording your conversation.
• Poor video call performance: Spyware running in the background can impact your device's performance, leading to choppy and unstable video calls despite a strong network connection.

Background app activity

However, background app activity can also have some negative side effects. Firstly, apps that refresh in the background can use a lot of battery power, as they are constantly running. This can be a problem if you're looking to maximise how long your device lasts between charges. Secondly, apps can use a significant amount of data in the background, which can be an issue if you're on a limited data plan. This can result in extra charges on your bill.

If you want to improve your device's battery life or reduce data usage, you can turn off background app activity for certain apps. On iPhones, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, and disable the slider for the app you want. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > All Apps, and disable background data or battery usage for the specific app. It's important to note that restricting background app activity may make apps less useful, as they won't be able to update content unless you open them.

Excessive data usage

It is important to be aware of your data usage to prevent excessive charges. Many devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and in-car Wi-Fi, use wireless data that can count against your monthly allowance. Activities such as high-definition video streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, and streaming music can consume a lot of data. Additionally, background apps can also use data when not in use, and some apps may use wireless data even when your device is connected to Wi-Fi.

To manage your data usage, it is recommended to connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible, especially when at home or work. This can significantly reduce data usage without changing your behaviour. Additionally, you can review your data usage options and consider changing to an unlimited plan if you regularly exceed your limit.

It is also worth noting that certain apps can be data-hungry, with social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter being notable examples. These apps often autoplay videos, which can use a significant amount of data. To reduce data usage, you can disable autoplay or limit it to Wi-Fi connections only. Similarly, apps like Instagram and Snapchat preload videos and photos, which can be prevented by enabling settings such as Travel Mode.

For video and music streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, you can lower the video quality or download albums and playlists when on Wi-Fi to avoid streaming over a cellular connection.

By being mindful of your data usage and making a few adjustments, you can effectively manage your data plan and avoid excessive charges.

Unfamiliar apps or files

Cybercriminals can also hijack your connection and install malware. This is known as a Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attack. MiTM attacks are more common on public Wi-Fi networks and websites with poor security.

You can regularly check your downloads folder for anything that shouldn't be there. Spyware also affects your storage availability and you might notice your storage is full when it shouldn't be. It's a good idea to monitor your storage regularly so you'll notice strange activity as soon as it happens.

If you see unfamiliar apps, check your background apps and battery usage. If an app you haven't been using shows high and recent activity, it could be hosting spyware. Get rid of it.

Also, check your camera permissions. Go to your privacy and security settings and revoke camera permissions for any software that doesn't need this privilege.

Poor video call performance

Firstly, check your devices. Always spend a minute checking your audio and video settings before a video call. Your browser or video conferencing app may have mistakenly selected the wrong microphone or camera, or your device may not be identified by the system. You can make a test call to ensure everything is running smoothly before joining the meeting.

Secondly, if possible, opt for a wired connection over WiFi. While the internet is now 1,000 times faster than it was ten years ago, WiFi connections can still be interrupted by other electronic devices or Bluetooth signals. Ethernet, on the other hand, is faster and does not depend on other connections on your network.

Thirdly, if you are experiencing connectivity issues, reboot your WiFi to update your router settings and improve overall performance. You can also check your network speed in advance. Moving closer to your router can also help strengthen your connection.

Additionally, it is important to focus on the call by closing other apps and browser tabs. Video conferencing can be demanding, and too many open applications can overload or overheat your CPU, leading to poor video quality.

Finally, if all else fails, you can simply disable your camera. While this may not be ideal for a video call, it can help to keep the meeting on track and ensure your audio is clear and uninterrupted.

Frequently asked questions