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Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

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Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#531

Post by ohazi »

_kst_ wrote: post #378
ohazi wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the only correct design, yet almost nobody does this. One of the challenges is verifying that this was done correctly. You may be able to verify a design like this once with a teardown, but it's impractical to verify your particular device, and next to impossible to re-verify this every time you leave your laptop unattended.

My work laptop (a Thinkpad) has a built-in plastic slider that physically covers the camera. If something activates the camera while that cover is closed, it won't see anything.

I wanted this, but I wanted the WQHD display more.

Lenovo didn't allow you to configure a T480 with both the high-resolution display and the plastic slider, it was either-or. The high-resolution display was their premium option that omitted the slider and added two more IR cameras for Windows Hello support.

So in addition to not getting the slider, I also had to disable the IR cameras.

I'm half tempted to buy the version of the display bezel with the slider and see if it'll fit as a replacement.

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#533

Post by ekianjo »

> The FaceTime HD camera built into your Mac computer is designed with your privacy in mind and uses a camera indicator light that glows green when the camera is active. So you will always know when the camera is on.

Erm, the whole point is that you can't trust this kind of indicator on an OS that's completely closed source.

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#534

Post by S_A_P »

I don’t use the sliding cover. I put black electrical tape over the camera. I keep a roll in my computer bag in case of an unusual scenario that I would need to use the camera. As soon as that is over I replace the tape. If it leaves a sticky residue? Oh well. Sorry. I have a phone if you absolutely need to see me.

Also- why isn’t the iPhone camera engineered the same way as the Mac? How many apps/websites would love to have footage of compromising moments?

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#536

Post by ekianjo »

Widdershin wrote: post #513
airstrike wrote: post #494

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless the LED somehow gets disabled, stops working, or something like it. It's not like the tape is ineffective, so why does Apple care if people use it?

Because it can damage the laptop?

Because they designed it poorly without understanding end users?

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#537

Post by jojobas »

neltnerb wrote: post #463
roenxi wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expect you are probably correct, but it doesn't really matter. If you don't want to be filmed, the correct engineering approach is not to have a camera pointed at you 24/7. It is a bit like the gun rule of not pointing a gun at things you don't want to shoot - sure, the trigger should be enough of a control, but accidents happen. If you spend your entire life with a camera pointed at your face, your face (and activ…

Indeed, I'm a little surprised Apple didn't follow the Thinkpad approach of simply having a sliding piece with an aperture that extremely obviously blocks the camera. Surely Apple can't seriously think their users would be confused by this and complain... I don't think my desktop computer's webcam is likely to get hacked either but I'm still going to unplug it when I'm not using it. Complex systems are hard to secure…

Think different.

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#538

Post by mirimir »

rgbrenner wrote: post #436

As an alternative to a camera cover, use the camera indicator light to determine if your camera is active I've been thinking about privacy all wrong. I thought it was about preventing access to my data... but Apple has cleared up my misunderstanding and now I know that it's just about being notified when my data is stolen. Everyone feel free to post your credit card numbers... your privacy is secure, since your bank…

If Apple makes such high-end stuff, and is marketing on privacy, why can't they spring for hardware switches? Pine64 does, and they're by no means high-end. Not by price, anyway.

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#539

Post by [deleted] »

ohazi wrote: post #202
the-pigeon wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But can't you specifically wire the indicator light to always be lit if the camera has power? I don't see Apple claiming they've done that but a correct design would make the indicator light work that way and be related to software at all. Meaning you could only disable the indicator light by physically modifying the device.

This is the only correct design, yet almost nobody does this. One of the challenges is verifying that this was done correctly. You may be able to verify a design like this once with a teardown, but it's impractical to verify your particular device, and next to impossible to re-verify this every time you leave your laptop unattended.

[deleted]

Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera

#540

Post by comex »

neltnerb wrote: post #463
roenxi wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expect you are probably correct, but it doesn't really matter. If you don't want to be filmed, the correct engineering approach is not to have a camera pointed at you 24/7. It is a bit like the gun rule of not pointing a gun at things you don't want to shoot - sure, the trigger should be enough of a control, but accidents happen. If you spend your entire life with a camera pointed at your face, your face (and activ…

Indeed, I'm a little surprised Apple didn't follow the Thinkpad approach of simply having a sliding piece with an aperture that extremely obviously blocks the camera. Surely Apple can't seriously think their users would be confused by this and complain... I don't think my desktop computer's webcam is likely to get hacked either but I'm still going to unplug it when I'm not using it. Complex systems are hard to secure…

I wonder, do the ThinkPads with that feature have a thicker lid than Apple laptops? I suspect they be thicker anyway because of the touchscreen, which would then provide a few millimeters more room for a shutter. But I'm completely speculating.
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