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Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

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Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#401

Post by pcblues »

SiVal wrote: post #335
jdblair wrote: post #325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

or, you can have a physical switch, like the Framework. that also hits your BOM but its not complex!

Would a bit of Post-It Note (for minimal adhesion) damage the screen coating if left on most of the time? Would even that much thickness stress the screen when opened and closed thousands of times? Is there a better (self-service) material?

Plastic slide covers that stick on are pretty cheap if your laptop doesn't already have one. I also think that the open microphone issue is a greater problem, especially with the current ability of speech-to-text, but what you utter may not be as important as being seen "doing a Toobin" during an online meeting. YMMV :) (I won't expand that acronym!)

Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#403

Post by MarcusE1W »

lukan wrote: post #393
ddalex wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Am I the only one that is not worried at all about the camera and super concerned about microphones ? The camera may see me staring into the screen, woo hoo. The microphones will hear everything I discuss, incl. confidential information. There is no physical microphone cover there, is it ?

Sound is usually more sensitive, yes. But even if there is a physical switch on the laptop, only very exotic smartphones have them. Also, loudspeakers can act as microphones, too. In other words, paranoia gets exhausting in modern times. (And my smartphone has a replacable battery for that reason to at least sometimes enjoy potentially surveillance free time)

My Pinephone has a switch for the microphone and also my Pinebook Pro laptop. But I also would agree that this is exotic hardware.

Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#405

Post by zakqwy »

Just install an NSA-B-GONE, my janky open-source modboard that adds Thinklight-controlled USB hardware switches to the webcam and microphone! Designed for the X220, but the X230 is pretty similar so I bet it would work: https://github.com/zakqwy/NSA-B-GONE

Of course, if everyone does that, attackers will just start pulsing Thinklights and seeing if anything enumerates, I suppose.

Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#406

Post by cuu508 »

SiVal wrote: post #335
jdblair wrote: post #325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

or, you can have a physical switch, like the Framework. that also hits your BOM but its not complex!

Would a bit of Post-It Note (for minimal adhesion) damage the screen coating if left on most of the time? Would even that much thickness stress the screen when opened and closed thousands of times? Is there a better (self-service) material?

> Would a bit of Post-It Note (for minimal adhesion) damage the screen coating if left on most of the time?

Possible, I have one IPS monitor with a spot on screen where the color is pale. I had a post-it note there and I guess something bad happened when I tore it off.

Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#407

Post by [deleted] »

ghjfrdghibt wrote: post #350

This is why I like a self built PC over laptops. Now I'm sure there's still some way to spot on me via a PC with no built in camera or microphone but I bet it's more difficult. I do have a laptop and it have a physical cover I can slide into place. Short of black blutack I've not got a decent option for the mic though.

[deleted]

Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#408

Post by lukan »

MarcusE1W wrote: post #403
lukan wrote: post #393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sound is usually more sensitive, yes. But even if there is a physical switch on the laptop, only very exotic smartphones have them. Also, loudspeakers can act as microphones, too. In other words, paranoia gets exhausting in modern times. (And my smartphone has a replacable battery for that reason to at least sometimes enjoy potentially surveillance free time)

My Pinephone has a switch for the microphone and also my Pinebook Pro laptop. But I also would agree that this is exotic hardware.

"But I also would agree that this is exotic hardware."

No shit. How is the current state btw?

I suppose still not ready to be a daily driver to replace my normal phone?

Re: Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230

#409

Post by LadyCailin »

ohhnoodont wrote: post #244
epistasis wrote: post #17

I can see why some people might be concerned about the camera, but I'm far more concerned by the microphone. There's far more sensitive and actionable information that can be gathered from me that way! I'm glad that macOS started putting a light in the menubar when the microphone is in use, but I'd prefer to have unhackable hardware for that instead.

Yup it's wild to me how much anxiety there is about cameras while no mind is given to microphones. Conversations are much more privileged than potentially seeing me in my underwear. That said the most sensitive information is what we already willingly transmit: search queries, interactions, etc. We feed these systems with so much data that they arguably learn things about us that we're not even consciously aware of.…

I’m just going to assume you’re a man, and don’t generally worry about things like revenge porn. Because that is a bigger concern to me than you, it seems. Sure, I don’t want my sound to be recorded either, but that’s why I put a cover on the webcam AND turn off the physical switch on my (external) microphone. They are both easy things to do.
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