A secure video camera device, comprising: a video camera having a camera lens and a video camera sensor coupled to an electrical interface; at least one visual indicator located near said lens, capable of providing visual user indication when said video camera is active; a computer interface cable for connecting the secure video camera device to a computer; a processor board interfacing said computer interface cable with said video camera sensor, capable of driving said video camera sensor and of receiving and processing a sensor video stream; a switch controllable only by the user and isolated from computer control, said switch being capable of: - setting said secure video camera device in a secured state by concurrently: - disabling said video camera sensor; and - turning off said visual indicator; and - setting said device in an operational state by concurrently: - enabling transfer of video data from said video camera sensor to said processor board; and - turning on said lighted indicator; a security controller, driving said switch; and a momentary switch operated by said user and connected to said security controller, wherein said momentary switch triggers said security controller to activate said operational state; characterized in that said security controller is: operable in push-to-use mode such that said operational state is activated when said momentary switch is pressed and held, and said security controller automatically sets said device in said secured state when said momentary switch is released, or operable in timed mode such that said operational state is activated when said momentary switch is pressed and held, and said security controller automatically sets said device in said secured state after a predefined time duration after said momentary switch was released to prevent inadvertent prolonged device activation. a video camera having a camera lens and a video camera sensor coupled to an electrical interface; at least one visual indicator located near said lens, capable of providing visual user indication when said video camera is active; a computer interface cable for connecting the secure video camera device to a computer; a processor board interfacing said computer interface cable with said video camera sensor, capable of driving said video camera sensor and of receiving and processing a sensor video stream; a switch controllable only by the user and isolated from computer control, said switch being capable of: - setting said secure video camera device in a secured state by concurrently: - disabling said video camera sensor; and - turning off said visual indicator; and - setting said device in an operational state by concurrently: - enabling transfer of video data from said video camera sensor to said processor board; and - turning on said lighted indicator; - setting said secure video camera device in a secured state by concurrently: - disabling said video camera sensor; and - turning off said visual indicator; and - disabling said video camera sensor; and - turning off said visual indicator; - setting said device in an operational state by concurrently: - enabling transfer of video data from said video camera sensor to said processor board; and - turning on said lighted indicator; - enabling transfer of video data from said video camera sensor to said processor board; and - turning on said lighted indicator; a security controller, driving said switch; and a momentary switch operated by said user and connected to said security controller, wherein said momentary switch triggers said security controller to activate said operational state; characterized in that said security controller is: operable in push-to-use mode such that said operational state is activated when said momentary switch is pressed and held, and said security controller automatically sets said device in said secured state when said momentary switch is released, or operable in timed mode such that said operational state is activated when said momentary switch is pressed and held, and said security controller automatically sets said device in said secured state after a predefined time duration after said momentary switch was released to prevent inadvertent prolonged device activation. operable in push-to-use mode such that said operational state is activated when said momentary switch is pressed and held, and said security controller automatically sets said device in said secured state when said momentary switch is released, or operable in timed mode such that said operational state is activated when said momentary switch is pressed and held, and said security controller automatically sets said device in said secured state after a predefined time duration after said momentary switch was released to prevent inadvertent prolonged device activation.