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Computer Tech Used Secret Spyware to Capture Images of Unsuspecting Female Customers
Photo by Mac Users Guide via Flickr
Not to freak you out or anything, but are you sure right now that no one is taking pictures of you without your knowledge through the camera installed on your Mac? A Fullerton-based computer tech was behind a scheme that involved him installed spyware into the computers of his female clients, which enabled him to collect hundreds of thousands of images of the women in various stages of dress and undress.The suspect is 20-year-old Trevor Harwell, who worked as an in-home tech for Rezitech Inc., according to L.A. Now. Many of the victims were from Biola University, which Harwell used to attend.
What tipped authorities off was a call from a concerned parent who said his daughter's computer was displaying a suspicious message. To encourage his victims to undress, Harwell allegedly programmed the computers to show a pop-up message that warned users their camera sensor needed cleaning. To clean the sensor, instructed the message, they should take their computer into a hot, steamy location. Obediently, many victims took their computer into the bathroom while they (you guessed it!) showered.
Harwell used remote access to nab the photos from the victims' webcams, and then downloaded the images to his own computer.
Fullerton police say Harwell worked on computers in L.A. and Orange counties. They have already spoken with several victims, but believe there may be more. The program he used was called Camcapture; authorities advise anyone who may think they could be victims to search the "/Library/WebServer Documents" directory for that program on their Macintosh computer.
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