Chrome cast and Spying

[realism51]

Can chrome cast or a generic thereof be used to spy on someones computer?
My landlord recently installed chrome cast or some generic of it, I dont use it, but the option is suddenly there on all my devices: phone, laptop, and Desktop. Phone and laptop I can understand because of the wifi, but my desktop is direct ethernet and no option for wifi. Yet I see the option when watching videos to send it to the TV (also in this case another PC monitor as well that somehow is set up for such). I am concerned if there is an ability for someone with chrome cast type device to somehow look and see what another person is doing on their computer at any given time and/or have access to their files. I am careful not to click this cast icon, but is there a way to disable such a cast service icon from my pc so that it doesnt even show up and is rejected for both incoming and outgoing data. I have patient and confidential information on my computer that I would like to keep secure.

Is such a thing (backwards spying) possible, if so how to prevent it? And can the cast be blocked or removed from any accidental casting or something of the above requested nature?

 

[Rogue Leader]

Can chrome cast or a generic thereof be used to spy on someones computer?
My landlord recently installed chrome cast or some generic of it, I dont use it, but the option is suddenly there on all my devices: phone, laptop, and Desktop. Phone and laptop I can understand because of the wifi, but my desktop is direct ethernet and no option for wifi. Yet I see the option when watching videos to send it to the TV (also in this case another PC monitor as well that somehow is set up for such). I am concerned if there is an ability for someone with chrome cast type device to somehow look and see what another person is doing on their computer at any given time and/or have access to their files. I am careful not to click this cast icon, but is there a way to disable such a cast service icon from my pc so that it doesnt even show up and is rejected for both incoming and outgoing data. I have patient and confidential information on my computer that I would like to keep secure.

Is such a thing (backwards spying) possible, if so how to prevent it? And can the cast be blocked or removed from any accidental casting or something of the above requested nature?

Chromecast is a receiver not a sender. It has no input device or interface, it can only be controlled by sending it a command (media or a stream) from a smartphone or computer. There is no way it can be used to go backwards into a device. Unfortunately because its on the same network as you are using theres no way to get around seeing it, but its not going to do anything to you. If anything its bad for him as you could accidentally send his device a stream or something, knocking out whatever he was doing previously.

 

[realism51]

Excellent. Thank you. Good to know.