Best way to block the camera on a Surface Book?

I keep reading about hackers gaining access to baby monitors and laptop cameras. How much of a risk is it really?

I have a Surface Book. As a precaution, I put masking tape over the camera, I hardly ever use the camera, but today we had a Zoom call with the grandkids. When I took the masking tape off, I noticed that it left a sticky residue. Yuck.

I cleaned all that off and was about to try some blue painter's tape, but first I did a little search and discovered several devices for just this purpose. Here are the ones I looked at. The numbers are the Amazon rating, the letter are the FakeSpot rating of the reviews.

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AZ639VG 4.1/557 A 10% 1 star reviews
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WC81LRS/ 4.7/34 F All positive reviews, so I suspect shilling
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BSNH8GH/ 4.0/756 D 12% 1-star reviews
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZT29P2/ 4.0/1830 C 13% 1-star reviews

These devices look a little dodgy.

Should I stick with the blue painter's tape or is there something better.

IMHO, M$FT should have built a mechanical slider into the laptop.

Open your device manager, (search for “device manager” to find it). There, you can locate your webcam under the “Imaging Devices” category, right-click it, and choose “Disable”.

You can enable it when you need to use it, basically reverse the same process.

Physical devices like you were looking at are fine as well. The only one I know is c-slide. It's been around a long time and has always been well liked.

Open your device manager, (search for “device manager” to find it). There, you can locate your webcam under the “Imaging Devices” category, right-click it, and choose “Disable”.

 

You can enable it when you need to use it, basically reverse the same process.

I don't trust a software setting. If a hacker can gain access to my computer, surely they can access that setting. I want a physical device.

Physical devices like you were looking at are fine as well. The only one I know is c-slide. It's been around a long time and has always been well liked.

C-Slide was the first one I listed. It had the best reviews and the best FakeSpot review rating, but it also had a lot of very negative reviews.

 

Open your device manager, (search for “device manager” to find it). There, you can locate your webcam under the “Imaging Devices” category, right-click it, and choose “Disable”.

 

You can enable it when you need to use it, basically reverse the same process.

I don't trust a software setting. If a hacker can gain access to my computer, surely they can access that setting. I want a physical device.

 

If a hacker is accessing your device manager settings, them being able to look at you through your camera is the least of your worries.

Simple things like reserving an administrator account for administrator functions only and putting in place a restricted execution policy are far more valuable.

 

Physical devices like you were looking at are fine as well. The only one I know is c-slide. It's been around a long time and has always been well liked.

C-Slide was the first one I listed. It had the best reviews and the best FakeSpot review rating, but it also had a lot of very negative reviews.

 

Yeah, there's no pleasing everyone.