Man convicted for installing voyeur software on computers

ByCraig Haley

privacy-graphic

When it comes to issues surrounding your computer and your privacy, it is more common for us to discuss how Internet crooks steal your personal information across the vast chasm of cyberspace.

But in this case, three unsuspecting UK based women had their privacy grossly invaded by a criminal who lived much closer to home. And it wasn’t anything like social media based scams or email trickery that was the catalyst to this criminal’s transgressions.

Andrew Meldrum, 30, was found guilty of planting voyeur software onto the computers of three women after he offered to help them out with IT related problems. The software allowed Meldrum to remotely access their computers webcam. Presumably with the intention of spying on the women, with what we assume to be … err… less than honourable purposes, shall we say.

The alarm was raised after one of the women found the software and warned the others, but only after the software was on there for an estimated 15 months.

It is worth remembering that whilst most online privacy issues these days arise from sites like Facebook, privacy invasions can occur much closer to home.

Always try and get your computer repaired by someone you trust, but if that is not possible always be on the lookout for suspicious activity on your computer and keep your security software updated to help weed out nefarious software.

If you notice odd activity with your webcam (like the light being on when it shouldn’t be) then cover it up until you can get someone else to take a look at it for you.

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