Live data from Hacker News

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

support.apple.com

541–550 of 990 posts

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

#541

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.

I don't think the price of a hardware switch would be a concern for Apple, but the size would. A hardware switch would take up space. Apple broke their keyboards to shave a couple millimeters of thickness off their laptops.

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

#542
I am shocked at the people defending apple. A thin piece of tape shouldn't be enough to damage the laptop. That's terrible design. I hate to make the cliche comparison, but this is why newer think pads have the camera cover built in.

"Dont cover the camera, YOU could hurt your 2500 dollar device."

In my opinion, this response from apple says:

They didnt know people covered their webcams.

Or

They dont want people covering their webcams.

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

#544

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great news, Mac camera lights are hardwired to the camera, and have been for ten years, no code necessary!

The light only tells them after their camera turns on, so it doesn't address their concern.

Neither does a camera cover given no one will remember to always close it after calls.

The hardwired status light is far better, you know as soon as you’ve been hacked, and well before they are likely to see anything compromising.

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

#548

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always notice when the light goes on, because it's close to my screen, and effectively a form of movement in a place I don't usually see it. It's also quite bright on Apple computers. Is it different for other people?

>> Is it different for other people? Yes. Many people leave the laptop on, and wander off to pee. Or they're jerking off with their eyes closed. Or they are using a different computer at the same time in a data-center. Or all of the above at once.

That’s some impressive multitasking.

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

#549

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People forget because you have to train yourself to remember, and outside of intelligence agency personnel, no one is doing that. Camera covers are just another example of security for show. Having a camera cover on a pc without a hard wired camera indicator like Macs have means you will never know how many of those times you were filmed after forgetting to slide your camera cover over.

People forget because you have to train yourself to remember, and outside of intelligence agency personnel, no one is doing that I'm sorry, do you mean to say that only intelligence agency personnel are capable of remembering a simple habit such as sliding a camera cover? Not too long ago we were all using flip phones, many with extendable antennas, and no one was having trouble remembering to flip open their phone a…

Closing the camera isn’t required to use it, only to disable it. Flip phones required opening to use them (and closing to fit in your pocket).

And yes, 90% of people aren’t going to remember to close the camera cover every time.

The LED indicator is all you need as long as its hardwired like Apples is.

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

#550

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People forget because you have to train yourself to remember, and outside of intelligence agency personnel, no one is doing that. Camera covers are just another example of security for show. Having a camera cover on a pc without a hard wired camera indicator like Macs have means you will never know how many of those times you were filmed after forgetting to slide your camera cover over.

You can have both the light and cover.

You only need the light.
Post reply on HN