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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

#931

Post by johne20 »

aloer wrote: post #825
johne20 wrote: post #606

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)…

What kind of cover was this? My company provides a ~1.2mm thick plastic cover with a little slider inside. I didn't even trust it enough to be used on a thinkpad, much less a macbook What I do now is either ripping off a small piece of the sticky top of sticky notes (keep the remainder for later reuse) or a piece of washi tape.

It was this one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C24NBGL

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

#932

Post by tyk0 »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #715
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…

> 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…

[dead]

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

#933

Post by hota_mazi »

DanBC wrote: post #181
soulofmischief wrote: post #160

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. Doesn't this sound like an engineering oversight and not a user error? Why are camera covers not just part of the design? My phone camera physically retracts when not in use.

> Why are camera covers not just part of the design? I guess Apple are going to say that they'd rather focus on the security of the OS and computer to prevent unauthorised software from being able to access the camera than on a mostly cosmetic doodad.

That cosmetic doodad is unhackable, though, as opposed to software.

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

#934

Post by iso947 »

draebek wrote: post #414
iso947 wrote: post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s about half a mm. what the hell happens to Apple laptops if you get a coin trapped in there When did Apple start building such fragile devices?

Is that a common thing for you, having a coin closed in your laptop? :)

Throw laptop in bag which has small things like coins, pen lids, etc

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

#935

Post by iso947 »

Drdrdrq wrote: post #795
jachee wrote: post #363

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I'm going to dinner where I can't take my backpack, I put mine in the safe. Can recommend. Physical security > *.

The safe that hotel provided for you? Agree that it's better than nothing though.

Safe is Probably worse than leaving in your bag

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

#936

Post by Dahoon »

JMTQp8lwXL wrote: post #913
minerjoe wrote: post #829

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why trust a company at all when you don't have to? Linux, the BSDs, etc.

If someone isn't getting paid, what incentive do they have to patch vulnerabilities in a timely manner?

So the base Apple builds their OS on is a huge security vulnerability? Or does it suddenly become secure when apple is involved?

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

#937

Post by m-p-3 »

Wowfunhappy wrote: post #715
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…

> 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…

Yet Dell and some other laptop manufacturers started to include a physical privacy slider right in the hardware. Considering Apple stance on privacy, I hope they consider this at some point.

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

#938

Post by Dahoon »

Razengan wrote: post #821
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…

> First, you have to trust Apple that the indicator _really_ can't be disabled. Or anyone with a basic knowledge of electronics who could verify it.

On the exact laptop you are using right this minute since multiple versions of each Mac model exists making a general advice useless.

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

#940

Post by MadWombat »

CiaranMcNulty wrote: post #896
bnegreve wrote: post #756

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Every laptop Apple has manufactured in the last ten years has an LED connected to the same circuit which powers up the camera. At the very least, I need a citation or an official statement. Because clearly, this has not always been the case [1]: We describe how to disable the LED on a class of Apple internal iSight webcams used in some versions of MacBook laptops and iMac desktops. [..] our investigation of the iSi…

I find it odd that you argue with the 'in the last 10 years' statement with a thing from 2008

"Whatever reason Apple had to design the camera system this way back in 2008, is probably still a valid reason"

reading comprehension is an important skill to develop

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