841–850 of 990 posts
This happened to me. Twice. I bought a 16" mbp when it was released because the keyboard of the previous mbp gave me carpal tunnel. I immediately added a camera cover like I always had done on macs. My screen stopped working a few days later, but mbp still worked on my external monitor. I took it in and they replaced the display for free via applecare. Once I got my mbp back, I added the camera cover again (stupidly)…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok. So there is not only a LED, but a physical latch. I think Apple's building security architect should have a conversation with their camera security architect.
I know where you were going with that, but the situation is different than what you’re trying to show. On Macs the light is on the path of the camera: if it is on the camera is, if it is not then the camera is not. Whereas with the door you might think that if it was latchless someone could just push it open when the light was off. The camera light is really a door alarm , not a door latch . (And as I just mentioned,…
A door without a latch does not prevent an unauthorized person from trespassing. A camera without a cover does not prevent an unauthorized person from trespassing.
Apples webcams are broken by design.
Other companies fixed theirs years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37NFVGLX3vw
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…
> 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…
Or your LED might be broken.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Regarding B: I’m wondering if the camera or the led typically break Would first with a higher probability
It is extremely unlikely (in the human terms - not possible) that LED would break in such a way that it transmits the power and not emit light at the same time. Of course the LED can be installed in a parallel connection on the circuit, but I read the op statement as it is not the case.
I think the point though is that it's not software controlled in any way: powering on the camera lights up the LED, and there's no way to bypass that with only software. Or at least that's the claim.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is just for external headsets.
No it's not. It's meant for any port, but this model has it's own port so you don't need to keep plugging and unplugging it. You can leave it in and daisy chain by plugging your headset or speaker into it rather than directly.
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…
Why do I even have to trust Apple and physics here? Why can't Apple just provide a physical lid for the camera to disable it. Why even take that chance.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you have your laptop in your bedroom, an uncovered camera can provide material for blackmail easily and fast.
Honestly, unless you're cheating on your SO, society is growing increasingly tolerant/indifferent of most of the other things you could see on a webcam
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.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The problem is that the average user has no way to verify this and also the light doesn't prevent the camera from turning on, it merely notifies you that the camera is on. A manual, physical barrier, especially an aftermarket one, solves those issues. Personally, I use electrical tape.
> ”the light doesn't prevent the camera from turning on, it merely notifies you that the camera is on.” No, but the OS prevents the camera from turning on without permission from the user. (There have been bugs/compromises to this in the past, but at the browser level - you still had to give camera permission to the browser) Besides, if you’ve got some compromised or surreptitious software on your MacBook trying to s…