“Don’t look over there at the man behind the curtain!” LOL. Just kidding— Wizard of Oz reference there— couldn’t help it.

I am able now to control the webcams from another computer in another room (my office).. So I can just sit at my desk in the office and control them. (and right now as I type this, Jack’s bum is in the cam — a full view of a puffy puff tail and big bunny feet.) I have two monitors on my desk and so I can see what is going on with the webcams on one, while I work on work stuff on the other.

Only one camera though can actually move, pan, zoom, and tilt remotely and it’s set in a little box so that even if a hacker got in, the most they’d be able to see would be some art on the wall and the ceiling if they wanted to stretch see how far up or sideways it could go. Anyway I was the one controlling that cam today as I was trying to record some cute stuff to post on facebook and twitter. Not so exciting though. A Few grooms, noms and loo action, but nothing out of the ordinary. I always miss the yawns and flops.

The other three I would have to walk in there and reposition, but they are pretty static otherwise.  I will change them in the morning and in the evening depending on where the action is. .  

I will end up doing a bunnyroom tour with one of the cams and/or take photos and do a little drawing for the cam page. I know that will help people feel a bit more oriented.

Oh, and yes, the squiggly that you see from the other camera is a camera— Well..the squiggly is a cord (with a cord cover).   

Posted By Kelling on 04/28/2011 08:22 PM

 

.  I also really hope that people cannot hack webcams.

 

Oh…they can, and it has happened to us.  It’s actually very easy to hack cams.  I discovered this when trying to figure out how ours got hacked and after researching, felt pretty shocked.  Webcams are not inherently secure.  And many people don’t even realize they need a password protection for their camera software (they just think if the computer has a password, then that’s fine.)  The webcam sellers don’t say too much about security either which doesn’t help.  So I advise anyone who gets a webcam to get one that has a privacy shutter or better yet just unplug your webcam from your computer when it is not in use and when you are unable to supervise.   

For us, we are able to now monitor much better, but even if someone hacked in, the cams are only in the bunnyroom, and placed in such a way now that it does not compromise our privacy. When cams are off, the computer is off and power is disconnected as an extra measure (just for my own feeling of comfort) of not having a stranger (virtually) in my house. 

It does have a creepy factor, but as security measures are taken and privacy is better protected, then it can be fun. 

BB, do you know if thats the same for webcams built into a laptop?

Posted By OneTwoThree on 04/28/2011 10:01 PM
BB, do you know if thats the same for webcams built into a laptop?

I disabled mine and use an external webcam that I can have control over.  Before that I put duct tape over it. (like Kelling). I am so sorry to make people worry.  It’s really probably something you don’t have to worry about.  It’s just that since it has happened to us, we are more aware.  We are also more vulnerable in some ways — any webcam that makes itself viewable to the public like we do, is a bit more risky than the average user. It’s just that when I began researching, it also made me realize vulnerabilities. 

The basic security of course is to have a firewall, and an antivirus software and password protect your computer, your wireless connection etc. Those are the basics.(we had all those too though)   I don’t want to reveal how people find webcams and view them here for obvious reasons, but if you are interested in protecting yourself then google Prevent Hacking webcam or hacking webcam issues.    You will find some additional tips on how to protect yourself.  The simplest way though is it just disconnect or disable when not in use.