FBI chief: Put tape over your webcam

FBI director James Comey is just as concerned about data security as anyone else — that's why he covers his webcam with a piece of tape. On Wednesday, Comey recommended others do the same at a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"There's some sensible things you should be doing, and that's one of them," said Comey, as reported by The Hill. "You do that so that people who don't have authority don't look at you. I think that's a good thing."

From Comey, that strikes many as a bit hypocritical. In April, when Comey first said he covered his camera, many in the internet security community found his remarks laughable, given that the FBI has used malware to attack computer cams, and last year went after Apple to compel the company to access the phone of San Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook, which they were later able to crack on their own.

Democratic congress members whose numbers were released in a data hack:

Security researcher and activist Chris Soghoian expressed the irony of Comey using a piece of tape to protect from surveillance in April.

Comey acknowledged that he was "much mocked for that," on Wednesday. He also tried to make the case that although he is a human in charge of a massive domestic surveillance apparatus, he is also just a human being."It's not crazy that the FBI director cares about personal security as well," he said. "So I think people ought to take responsibility for their own safety and security."

So cover your cam!

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