It’s very sad that some users may associate Apple==Security. NO piece of software is secured on this planet. If it’s programmable(even through Assembly), then a programmer can break through it. I will cover my webcam physically, even if I am running linux, thank you very much.
Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
681–690 of 990 posts
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#682Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Better yet, Lenovo has a little plastic cover built into the camera under the lens. I don't need to trust the implementation of some switch, I can physically cover up the camera with a nicely integrated cover. No trust required for about 0.01¢ of plastic.
>better yet
I disagree. Hw switch seems a bit more trustworthy/inspectable
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#683As 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…
True, Apple always knows what's best for its customers. 'It wouldn't let them shoot their own foot'[1].
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#684Here’s the document explaining how it’s physically impossible to use the microphone when the MacBook lid is closed: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/secbbd20b00b/... Where is the equivalent document explaining how it’s physically impossible for the camera to be active without the green LED lighting up?
AFAIK there's no official Apple document. Would you accept the recollection of an anonymous former Apple engineer writing to a fairly popular blog? /s
https://daringfireball.net/2019/02/on_covering_webcams
> All cameras after that one were different: The hardware team tied the LED to a hardware signal from the sensor: If the (I believe) vertical sync was active, the LED would light up. There is NO firmware control to disable/enable the LED. The actual firmware is indeed flashable, but the part is not a generic part and there are mechanisms in place to verify the image being flashed. […]
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#685[deleted]
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#686Earlier quoted context omitted.
Mac camera lights can’t be hacked. And tell you exactly when it’s in use.
Can you back this claim with references?
The other comment says there are dozens in this thread...I haven't seen anything specific mentioned. But, I remember reading something a year or two ago[1] that's not solidly sourced (it'd be great if Apple posted something on their website like they did about microphones [2])
> All cameras after that one were different: The hardware team tied the LED to a hardware signal from the sensor: If the (I believe) vertical sync was active, the LED would light up. There is NO firmware control to disable/enable the LED. The actual firmware is indeed flashable, but the part is not a generic part and there are mechanisms in place to verify the image being flashed. […]
[1] https://daringfireball.net/2019/02/on_covering_webcams
[2] https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/secbbd20b00b/...
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#687Why don’t iPhones have a camera light?
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#688> If you close your Mac notebook with a camera cover installed, you might damage your display because the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances.
Yep, this is exactly how the screen on my 16" cracked. I'd rather have a 0.5mm thicker laptop where I can actually cover up the camera.
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#689The real meat of TFA: > Make sure the camera cover is not thicker than an average piece of printer paper (0.1mm)
I think being aware of covering the ambient light/True Tone sensor is also significant.
Re: Don't close your MacBook with a cover over the camera
#690> 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.
My understanding is that the LED is hard-wired the power source of the camera sensor. There's no separate software command to turn the LED on. All Macs run Windows and most run Linux pretty well. So you /could/ audit at least one open source software implementation.
However, like many others have mentioned in this thread, personally I see the value in having a physical cover in addition.