Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
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Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
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Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#2This is not a real approach at security.
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#3Even with a "mute" checkbox, it stands to reason that a hack that grants access to the mic will also at least attempt to bypass the "mute" setting. So, without a hardware solution, there's no real way to secure the mics on these macbooks.
Personally I'm not that worried, but I can see why this could be a problem for some.
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#4Like always, if you can't trust your machine, you should stop using it and reformat it. The only security comes with a controlled behavior in which software is installed in your computer, which websites you visit, etc.
Any software switch can be overriden by a silent hack. Besides, overhearing conversations is the least of your problems if your computer is compromised. I would worry more about documents and web browser data.
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#5What about putting a wee piece of tape over the mic hole?
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#6Paranoia much? Surely a much better approach to security would be network monitoring, anti-virus and vigilance. This sounds like blacking out the windows because you can't be bothered to close the curtains.
If your tin-hat doesn't feel like enough protection, try downloading and installing Sound Flower (Generally cool app). Basically it lets you 'patch' one audio output on the computer to an audio input, so you could record the output of your computers speakers at near full resolution (Useful for screen-casts/video game play through and probably lots of other things). Activate Sound Flower Bed and select the option along the lines of 'no input'/'no device'. Go into system preferences and select the Sound Flower device as the default input device.
All of that is, however, completely irrelevant since applications can select audio inputs external to system preferences and record the input at whatever volume they like. (E.G. Skype can use a different input to the sys default, Logic Pro can record from all you system inputs at once etc.)
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#7I'll tell you what else seems to always be listening - the camera on the MacBook Pro, even when the little green light is off.
Cover the camera with your finger or shine a flashlight/mobile phone screen into it, watch the keyboard lights react. It's obviously listening for light level changes.
I just wonder how much data you could collect from the sensor without the green light turning on?
edit: I'm wrong, see my reply to jcromartie
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#8Yeah .. umm .. and there is no guarantee that your CPU isn't broadcasting every single operation to a top-secret government satellite, either. The technology is there: have you audited your CPU today?
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#9Even if the default input device is set to "Line-In" software would be able to get the audio data from any device on the system. The NSA precautions mentioned in the article are superstitious and would likely do nothing to deter anyone who had compromised your system that badly.
Re: Is My MacBook Pro Always Listening?
#10Even with a "mute" checkbox, it stands to reason that a hack that grants access to the mic will also at least attempt to bypass the "mute" setting. So, without a hardware solution, there's no real way to secure the mics on these macbooks. Personally I'm not that worried, but I can see why this could be a problem for some.
Exactly. I was going to suggest using something like Soundflower to create a fake sound input device, but at the end of the day it's still a software thing that can be overridden.
If you're really paranoid, you could always remove the mic with a soldering iron... =)