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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

#701

Post by drusepth »

mekster wrote: post #418
happytoexplain wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly this. I use one for these reasons, in descending order of practical concern: 1. I don't want to broadcast myself during a meeting when I'm not prepared, or perhaps leave a meeting open by accident. 2. If a bad actor does access my camera, I won't necessarily notice the indicator light, especially if I'm not actively using the computer at that moment. 3. I don't trust the indicator light to be permanently unha…

Right. And some apps like WebEx turn on the camera by default, which is insane but happens and until you click to turn it off, you're live. Also, if you're using an external display, then how are you supposed to notice the green light on the MacBook sitting next to the display? That Apple article is nonsense. I put a black tape over the camera and I know nothing including hacks can broadcast unintended scene. It's ea…

>Right. And some apps like WebEx turn on the camera by default, which is insane but happens and until you click to turn it off, you're live.

Not to mention apps that do it "right" like Hangouts that enable the camera for you to preview your video feed before you're actually live. Could be pretty confusing/concerning for someone who isn't used to an app (and when it broadcasts you or not) and sees the light come on. A cover takes that whole thought worry-pitfall out of the possibilities.

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

#702

Post by Wowfunhappy »

dahfizz wrote: post #655
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #511

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you seeing the indicator light go on when you aren't actively using the webcam?

Do you believe that zero days don't exist? You think your laptop is absolutely hack proof? A hacker isn't going to randomly burn their exploits, but that doesn't mean none exist.

I don't believe that zero days exist in a circuit, no. The LED is not software. You cannot power up the camera without powering up the LED.

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

#703

Post by foolfoolz »

bloody-crow wrote: post #648

This statement has a number of issues. First, you have to trust Apple that the indicator _really_ can't be disabled. You also have to trust that there isn't a vulnerability Apple is not aware about that could allow rolling the camera without the light coming on. This has happened in the past [0] and there are known Apple products that are vulnerable, yet the statement never mentions this making you believe it's impos…

i don’t understand the argument that you trust apple enough to use their os but not be enough to believe their green light

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

#704

Post by Wowfunhappy »

xfitm3 wrote: post #618
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #557

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You still have a silent mode toggle on your iphone. Yes, and it's one of, what, three moving parts left? Even the home button on the iPhone 7, 8, and 2020 SE is fake, it doesn't actually depress.

I think the removal of iphone buttons is for water resistance which I don't think applies to laptops.

Well, I can't speak to Apple's intentions, but consider they did the same thing with their laptop touchpads as they did the iPhone button. The touchpad used to actually depress, now it just vibrates to simulate feedback.

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

#705

Post by madars »

duxup wrote: post #11

This seems like a pretty mild warning for folks who might stick a bulky cover on their camera and press down / pack their laptop tightly and now have wedged part of the screen open with the cover. I'm a fan of using painters tape.... pretty low profile, easily removed, stays on really well. Also the weird blue glow you get when the camera is on tells you pretty quick "Hey there's a cover on there" where sometimes wit…

Mark Zuckerberg is smart and does the same https://twitter.com/topherolson/status/745294977064828929

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

#706

Post by mistersquid »

There are good reasons to want a camera cover that physically blocks the camera from being used that are not addressed by an indicator light (especially prevention versus disclosing).

But my guess is Apple recommends that users not block the camera because Face ID will someday make it to macOS.

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

#707

Post by technicaldonut »

zelon88 wrote: post #506
crazygringo wrote: post #472

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great point. This could be solved in software at the OS-level with a permission dialog that popped up every time the camera was asked to be activated (as opposed to an ongoing website permission). Which would be overly annoying for most, but appreciated by a privacy-conscious minority. But unless Apple ever did that (doubtful), once you see the green light it's already too late. It does make me wonder if so…

Personally I think a hardware switch that disabled the mic and camera is the best route. Engineers would have to be honest in actually connecting the switch directly to the camera rather than resorting to some firmware tom-foolery. Then you could wire the indicator to the switch as a visual reminder that your camera is attached to your PC.

The HP Spectre x360 line has had physical kill switches to the camera for some time now. I think since the 2018 version. Still waiting for the microphone switch though.

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

#708

Post by mrignacio »

windexh8er wrote: post #158
vngzs wrote: post #30

If you're going to cover it, use a sticker, like the EFF stickers here[0]. They're reusable, so you can move it to the side for meetings. I used a hard plastic MongoDB-branded sliding camera cover on a couple laptops[1], and its presence appears to have contributed to backlight bleed like this[2]. [0]: https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set-ii [1]: https://www.amazon.com/C-Slide-Sliding-Computers-Chr…

Came here to say this. Have been using the EFF stickers for years and everyone always asks about them vs the kludgey plastic ones everyone wedges in there that Apple is making note of. I've used them in the past on my phones as well, but given the advent of multiple front facing cameras this has become more of a pain. I purchased some of this sticker material a while ago with the intent to try and laser cut some spec…

What type of material is it exactly? I want to source some for myself but don't know what type of sticker will be "ultra-removeable" and reusable.

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

#710

Post by jhallenworld »

dathinab wrote: post #109
gtm1260 wrote: post #20

I was very skeptical of the camera covers, but then through conversations with some of my co-workers, I realized that they weren't being used because people were worried about spies secretly turning on the camera. It was 90% of the time just peace of mind that their camera was actually off, instead of having to find the sometimes hard to see options in video chat programs etc.

That is what I like with the Lenovo webcams in T480s and probably later versions. They have a small slider with the camera protection "glass" build in which can cover the camera and will "show" a red dot if it's covered.

Current cheap ones have them- my daughter has one for college. She had to use it for remote college for the pandemic- but it was the first time we used the webcam on that computer. We used an external webcam a few times because we thought the internal one was broken, but the door was just closed...
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