Does putting tape over your computer's webcam make you paranoid? Probably not.
You might remember a group called Lizard Squad who took down XBox Live and Playstation Network back in 2014.
Now the group is using webcams to carry out its DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks by hacking into multiple cameras and then sending thousands of bots to overwhelm a site with traffic.
By hacking into webcams or any IoT (Internet of Things) device, such as your smartwatch, the group has been able to take down gaming networks, Brazilian banks, and even government sites.
The hack was first discovered by Arbor Networks' ASERT group in 2015, who has been tracking it since.
IoT devices are particularly easy to hack into because they often run a stripped-down version of Linux without many (if any) security features. Users often don't notice that their device has been compromised.
Even if your webcam isn't being hacked to take over entire medical facilities, you still could be at risk for cyber-spying.
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg was recently photographed at Instagram's headquarters celebrating 500 million followers. In the background of the photo, you can see his open laptop with a bright, shiny piece of tape covering his webcam and audio jack.
It's a simple trick for a hack that could have serious consequences.