Technician Arrested for Installing Webcam Peeping Software on Women's PC

Technician Arrested for Installing Webcam Peeping Software on Women's PC


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A computer technician has been arrested in California for allegedly installing peeping software on women's computers. The software apparently allowed the man, Trevor Harwell, to remotely access the computers and use their webcams to take pictures and videos of the unsuspecting owners.
And Harwell apparently went a step beyond simply hoping to catch women in various stages of undress.

"Police said he installed software on his alleged female victims' Macs that would send error pop-ups that instructed them to 'fix their internal sensor soon,' and 'try putting your laptop near hot steam for several minutes to clean the sensor.'

Some of the alleged victims would take their laptops in to the bathroom while they showered as a result, authorities said."

Authorities searched Harwell's personal computer and found that it contained videos and photos of women numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

Detectives "identified several victims," according to the Associated Press.

In an official statement, Fullerton, California police Sergeant Andrew Goodrich stated:

"While [Harwell] had physical access to the computers, he would install a spy ware-type application that allowed him remote access to the user's computer and webcam. Once he had access, he would take photographs of the users, usually women. Often, the female victims were undressed or changing clothes. Harwell then stored the photos on a remote server, and eventually downloaded them to his own computer."

Police had been investigating the case since last year after a Fullerton man noticed some of the odd messages popping up on his daughter's computer.

On Wednesday, Harwell was arrested later released on a $50,000 bond. Court records indicate that "he is facing 12 felony counts of computer access and fraud," reports the OC Register.

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COURTESY OF FULLERTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Man suspected of using spyware to take pictures of women in their homes

June 08, 2011|By SEAN EMERY

FULLERTON – A man suspected of planting spyware on dozens of computers in order to take control of laptop webcams and photograph women in their homes was arrested Wednesday at his Fullerton residence, police said.

Investigators carried out an arrest warrant for Trevor Harwell, 20, who they suspect of using his position with Rezitech Inc., a computer service company, to install software allowing him to remotely access victims' computers, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said.

"Once he had access, he would take photographs of the users, usually women," Goodrich said. "Often, the female victims were undressed or changing clothes. Harwell then stored the photos on a remote server, and eventually downloaded them on his own computer."

Investigators discovered "numerous" victims, Goodrich said, all of whom are adult women.Authorities say Harwell worked on computers in both Orange and Los Angeles counties. Investigators seized hundreds of thousands of still images and videos from his computer, Goodrich said.

Authorities began their investigation in summer 2010 after a Fullerton resident noticed that suspicious messages were popping up on their daughter's computer.

Goodrich said the messages told users to "fix their internal sensor soon," advising them that if they were unsure of what to do, they could "try putting your laptop near hot steam for several minutes to clean the sensor." The message convinced some of the victims to take their laptops in the bathroom with them as they showered, Goodrich said.

Along with the spyware, investigators believe that Harwell may have exploited Macintosh computers connected to Biola University's internal network. Harwell is a former student at the school, which many of the victims attended, Goodrich said.

There was no evidence that Harwell shared the photos with anyone else or posted them online, Goodrich said.

Harwell was released from custody after posting a $50,000 bond on Wednesday afternoon. According Orange County Superior Court records, he is facing 12 felony counts of computer access and fraud.

Additional charges will likely be filed in Los Angeles County, Goodrich said, although the cases could be combined at a later date.

"This is a very chilling and troubling kind of crime, when people's privacy is violated like this," Goodrich said. "It goes to a lot of people's deep fears of being watched and not having privacy in their own homes."

Police haven't ruled out the possibility of other potential victims, asking people who think they may have been affected to check their "/Library/WebServer/Documents" directory for "Camcapture," a program that Harwell is suspected of installing in the computers in order to access them.

Investigators are asking anyone who believes they were a victim to call their local police department or Fullerton police detective Kathryn Hamel at 714-738-5327

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Goodrich said the messages told users to "fix their internal sensor soon," advising them that if they were unsure of what to do, they could "try putting your laptop near hot steam for several minutes to clean the sensor." The message convinced some of the victims to take their laptops in the bathroom with them as they showered, Goodrich said.

Along with the spyware, investigators believe that Harwell may have exploited Macintosh computers connected to Biola University's internal network. Harwell is a former student at the school, which many of the victims attended, Goodrich said.

There was no evidence that Harwell shared the photos with anyone else or posted them online, Goodrich said.

Harwell was released from custody after posting a $50,000 bond on Wednesday afternoon. According Orange County Superior Court records, he is facing 12 felony counts of computer access and fraud.

Additional charges will likely be filed in Los Angeles County, Goodrich said, although the cases could be combined at a later date.

"This is a very chilling and troubling kind of crime, when people's privacy is violated like this," Goodrich said. "It goes to a lot of people's deep fears of being watched and not having privacy in their own homes."

Police haven't ruled out the possibility of other potential victims, asking people who think they may have been affected to check their "/Library/WebServer/Documents" directory for "Camcapture," a program that Harwell is suspected of installing in the computers in order to access them.

Investigators are asking anyone who believes they were a victim to call their local police department or Fullerton police detective Kathryn Hamel at 714-738-5327.