July 31, 2007

How to Webcam Chat On the Internet… and Keep Safe

Live webcam chatting online, also known as live video chatting, is now becoming the communication method of choice of many. And for good reason: what’s better than to see and hear your friend, relative, date or even spouse from across cities, states, countries, or even continents, in real-time?

But this being a fairly new technology, many people do not know how to get started. This article explains how to webcam chat online, plus some safety pointers.

Things You Need:

1. A computer (duh!) with a later version Windows such as XP or Vista. You can also use Mac if that’s what you have.

2. A high speed internet connection (DSL, broadband, cable, T1, Fiber Optics etc.): This is vital as dial-up connection if it works at all, will drag for ever, and is quite annoying to both you and your video chat friend(s).

3. Webcam: A web camera, popularly known as a webcam or cam for short, is relatively inexpensive compared to regular video camera. It is what captures images. Some computers already come with an in-built webcam. The typical place for a webcam is on top of your computer monitor. Installation instructions will be included in any new webcam package. The typical webcam does not require a power source at it is powered by the computer.

4. Software: Your webcam will typically come with a disk that you will need to install. This is as easy as plugging the disk into your CD drive and following the instructions. The software uploads images to be accessed through the Internet.

Once the hardware and software is ready, it’s time to start chatting with others, live on video. Typically, you must all use the same company. It is important to know why you want to chat as this helps in selecting the company. Do you simply want to connect with friends or relatives? Do you want to find a date? Or do your interests lean toward the risqué?

If all you want is to connect with friends or relatives, then you can use one of the popular internet services, such as Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, etc. The only problem here is that you will have to all be with the same company, which is obviously not practical.

For those seeking a date or erotic adult encounters, there are dating services that specialize in adult webcam dating. Most webcam chat sites allow free basic membership.

Personal safety and security guidelines:

1. Don’t give out personal information such as passwords, address, phone number or real name to anyone over the internet.

2. Sign up with a reputable site in all cases, but especially when pursuing dating and adult interests. Some websites can sneak “Trojan horses” into your computer, which can activate your webcam without your knowledge. This can potentially catch you or someone in your household in a compromising situation (and get broadcasted worldwide!).

3. Always deactivate or turn off the webcam system when not in use, to avoid getting caught… well, with your pants down.

4. Children should not be allowed to use a webcam to chat with others unsupervised. Granted, some programs have adult filters. But filters will not stop an adult stranger from asking a child your address or where they can meet.

5. Exercise the higher caution (and commonsense) than you would with a text chat or instant messaging service. Remember that strangers out there can see you, and know what you look like.

Seeking dating or adult webcam chat? Find reputable live webcam video chat sites now.

Share and Enjoy: