I notice the payment form is US-centric (it demands a state, I told it n/a). Really quite fitting, given that the NSA isn't supposed to spy on Americans.
Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
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Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#12Perhaps tangential, but is there any way to be certain whether the webcam light can be controlled by software? I often wonder if my MBP camera is necessarily off just because the ominous little green light isn't shining.
That would be hardware-specific, but probably _always_ independently controllable. It's not like the IC manufacturer is going to link the CCD to an LED.
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#13WTF, why is this crap on HN homepage? A front camera sticker? Seriously guys.
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#14Am I the only one who doesn't have a microphone or webcam in my laptop these days (6 year old Lenovo T61)? It didn't come with a webcam and I unplugged the mic. I can't stand the thought of them pointing at me.
My laptop has a sliding piece of plastic that covers the webcam http://i.imgur.com/zRnNOEQ.jpg
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#15All Thinkpads have a "no webcam" option and all W and T (and X?) series come with a free hardware kill switch for your microphone.
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#16Perhaps tangential, but is there any way to be certain whether the webcam light can be controlled by software? I often wonder if my MBP camera is necessarily off just because the ominous little green light isn't shining.
That would be hardware-specific, but probably _always_ independently controllable. It's not like the IC manufacturer is going to link the CCD to an LED.
Why not? It's easy. Turn the LED on when there's current on the CCD's power input.
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#17This is fabulous.
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think so. It seems like software controls whether that little green light is on. Unless the green light is on whenever the webcam is powered.
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Hardware-based can mean two things.
1. The CCD IC controls the LED
2. A intermediate IC has firmware that controls the CCD and LED
This means that, for Macbooks, running the CCD without the LED is _very difficult_, but, if the camera supports firmware upgrades, it is possible. And there could be undocumented commands to enable video without the LED.
If you're afraid of script-kiddies watching you read Reddit, you can probably trust the LED. If you're afraid the NSA has identified you as a special target, you probably cannot.
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#19I have a light next to my webcam that turns on when it's active. Is it possible the webcam can be activated without that light turning on?
Re: Turn your laptop into a NSA spying machine
#20I would be more useful if someone made a sticker of some sort that allows you to cover the camera when you don't need it, and pull off easily when you do. Maybe a little magnet would do the trick.
You want this: http://www.c-slide.com/
This one is cheaper
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/9/2/z/w/J/W/post-it-note.svg
