Can I use my laptops built in camera for home security?

I have a relatively new Toshiba with windows 7. I would like to be able to activate the camera in someway so that I can view it from my Iphone 5. Is there an app or program to do this? I would prefer not to have to pay any fees. Altho purchasing an egg cam or motion detector could be option since it would be nice to be alerted on my Iphone if someone entered my home. Also is there a way to record this video if need be such as if there was an intruder?

Security camera changes according to the configuration. You can connect the security camera with the laptop.

If someone breaks into the home, what's the 1st thing they will grab?
Electronics… Specially visible laptops.
Relying on highly visible, portable, valuable devices to provide security footage (or feed) is not wise.
Buying a pinhole cam, and hiding that is much more effective. Wireless is even better.
Then you can beam the images to the functioning, well hidden computer, and record or feed to a LAN, and then on to the Internet so you can access that remotely.

WheresJames Webcam Publisher
allows you to publish images or video from a web cam to the web. It includes various tools to enhance the image, including support for overlays, text captions (custom font and color), watermarks, time and date stamping, transparency, and translucency. Other advanced features include Chroma-Key effects, motion detection, auto-emailing, video effects and more… Etc.
Freeware; very nice.
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/webpublish/fwwebcam.html

Google for a supplier of pinhole cameras.