Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

support.apple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

731–740 of 990 posts

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

#731

Post by krzyk »

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.

And I would really like something similar for my microphone - a physical switch. For camera I can glue one myself, but for mic it is not possible :(

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

#735

Post by dschuetz »

davesque wrote: post #709

It's a bit surprising to me that this is trending so much. Apple has been making functionality compromises for years at the expense of hackers and power users of all kinds. Is it really so shocking that MacBooks aren't compatible with camera covers?

No, it's shocking that Apple doesn't seem to understand that their assurances do not even remotely touch what users of physical cover have in mind. A LED showing that the webcam is active means that it's too late. It doesn't matter what app is using the webcam, with permissions or not. The users apparently want to prevent the webcam to make any clear pictures. Apple just doesn't seem to get it. Instead Apple say, it's impossible for apps to turn the webcam on without permission. Ever heard of "trustworthy" apps being compromised? I have.

Apple compromises at the wrong issues. The issue is trending because of that.

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

#736

Post by jlnthws »

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.

I've always used a sticker (black dot-shaped) or a piece of post-it note. Post-it is really convenient but it's ugly.

I still think the best solution would be to have no builtin camera or microphone. Just have something like the iSight that you manually and thus willingly connect to your thunderbolt. Works with your external monitor as well and you can orient it the way you like. It would also have better overall image and sound quality (low light, more shallow depth of field, etc.). And on the plus side for Apple and its shareholders, it's another $499 essential.

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

#737

Post by Wowfunhappy »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #557
waheoo wrote: post #554

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You still have a silent mode toggle on your iphone. I think apple can figure out how to add a hardware switch for a camera/mic to a laptop without compromising thickness. It doesnt need to be a hardware cover, just a hardware killswitch to the circuit.

> 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.

(Thinking about this again, past the edit window—no, it's more than three parts. There's the (1) sleep/wake button, (2) (3) the two volume buttons, (4) and the vibration motor. And I guess (5) the speaker too, not sure if it counts. Still, it's not many.)

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

#738

Post by dschuetz »

mistersquid wrote: post #706

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.

Shame. I guess Apple either better includes a physical cover soon, or bury their always-on FaceID plans.

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

#739

Post by smsm42 »

Simon_says wrote: post #724
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #715

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. I have made this point several times throughout this thread, so I apologize for repeating myself: Every laptop Apple has manufactured in the last ten years has an LED connected to the same circu…

Can one power up the camera for only a few milliseconds? Enough to take a still photo, without the LED getting bright enough for a human to notice?

It doesn't have to be milliseconds. Most of people don't sit and stare on the camera all day. I have multiple displays and turning camera for a second when I am looking at another display - or even the laptop one but concentrating on something on the screen, especially the lower part - would slip my attention very easily. Or I might notice something off with peripheral sight, but it is very inexact and while I turn my head to bring it into the field of sight where I have a good resolution, it could be already gone. Of course, the cover has none of these problems. If it's covered, then it's covered.
Post reply on HN