But can people video tape you and record you through your computer? Someone told me they can through your smart phone by hacking into it.

I'm not an expert on this, but I have heard about people turning on another computer's webcam and spying on them that way.

I heard about that too. I remember when they switched to digital tv and people sent away for those rebate coupons and the news were interviewing people at the store who were buying the converter boxes. This guy said he bought one for his mom but she kept a blanket draped over it when she wasn't watching tv because she thought there was a hidden camera built into it.

sure, but you can just get a Post-It and put it over the camera lens when you aren't using it.

...and of course update and manually scan with your anti-virus and anti-malware programs regularly.

Im glad I dont have a camera or microphone on my computer but I do wonder about the cable modem in my room,does it have a camera/microphone??

Anyway they can spy on us they will try!!!

They can turn on your web cam without activating the monitor light, assuming you are interesting enough that people want to watch you. Unless you have something that someone else wants, I wouldn't be overly concerned.

They also have heat cameras that allow someone to peer through your living room wall, and can distinguish between you and other family members, and can tell what part of your anatomy that you are scratching.

But again, you have to be important enough to have some one willing to go to the trouble required.

Most of these concerns about clandestine "spy cams", imo, originated from people learning that newer tvs have a built in "p0rn chip", and not understanding what it is intended to be used for.

People who sit around watching XXX adult material and behaving in prurient ways...have good reason to be paranoid about something as evil sounding as a "p0rn chip"....sure they must be watching your every deviant action, right?

Well, the "porn chip" on TVs is just the "parental settings" control, where materials having an objectionable RATING can be blocked with a password so the kiddies cannot tune in the showtime softcore channel while the parents are at the Amway meeting. nothing more.