Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

NSA Spy Cam Blocker

store.randpaul.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 68 posts

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#21

Post by vortico »

ary wrote: post #14

This is a testament to how helpless the average person is when it comes to using, much less understanding, modern computer technology. It is the equivalent of "duct tape and WD-40" to repair a broken down vehicle. As a software developer I'm regularly ashamed by the inaccessibility of computer technology. The non-technical individual's inability to control what happens to them and around them in regards to electronic…

True, duct tape would work, but you can never be 100% sure whether the device is being used without disconnecting the cables, which is difficult for some laptops and displays.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#23

Post by _lce0 »

tracker1 wrote: post #20

I'm surprised some laptops don't have something similar built in.. though a small piece of electrical tape works as well.

I'm not surprised at all, it's like these embedded battery on mobile phones .. so anyone cannot easily remove them

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#24

Post by elihu »

ary wrote: post #14

This is a testament to how helpless the average person is when it comes to using, much less understanding, modern computer technology. It is the equivalent of "duct tape and WD-40" to repair a broken down vehicle. As a software developer I'm regularly ashamed by the inaccessibility of computer technology. The non-technical individual's inability to control what happens to them and around them in regards to electronic…

I think the low-tech solution is the correct one in this case. If one wants to be sure their camera is not recording them they can a) audit the entire source code of their OS and relevant applications (including the complete chain of compilers that have ever been used to compile compilers for their device all the way back to the very first one), device firmware, and inspect the circuit layout of all integrated circuit devices in their computer to look for backdoors or b) they can put something in front of the lens.

I agree that this is a pretty regrettable state of affairs that we basically can't trust anything with a turing-complete processor in it somewhere.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#25

Post by mhurron »

myth_buster wrote: post #10

The Nope [0] laptop cover (featured in kickstarter) uses magnets and prevents from scratching the camera lens. [0] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1893116150/nope-live-fr...

Also looks like it would prevent the laptop from closing all the way.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#26

Post by joshavant »

Without having looked at any wiring schematics for the iSight module... does anyone know if it's even possible to apply power to the iSight hardware module, without the LED becoming illuminated?

I would presume the LED is wired directly to the module's power. Then, it would be physically impossible to turn on the camera, without the LED becoming illuminated. (And, in my opinion, obviate much of the need for these silly stickers.)

It would also be an odd design for Apple to make the camera's LED indicator an independently controllable component.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#27

Post by jonwachob91 »

natch wrote: post #2

Stole the idea from the EFF, which sells it for a lot less money: https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set

Does your version help finance Rand Paul's next campaign? I didn't think so, so nope, they are different.

I'm obviously kidding around.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#28

Post by ceejayoz »

finnh wrote: post #3
natch wrote: post #2

Stole the idea from the EFF, which sells it for a lot less money: https://supporters.eff.org/shop/laptop-camera-cover-set

Not really apples-to-apples, though. The Rand Paul cover is a sliding bit of plastic, vs just an adhesive strip.

The Rand Paul cover is a campaign contribution.

edit: Not sure why this is getting downvoted. The price difference is unlikely to have much to do with the physical costs involved. Political campaign stores typically have inflated prices as they're fundraising efforts.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#29

Post by s_q_b »

joshavant wrote: post #26

Without having looked at any wiring schematics for the iSight module... does anyone know if it's even possible to apply power to the iSight hardware module, without the LED becoming illuminated? I would presume the LED is wired directly to the module's power. Then, it would be physically impossible to turn on the camera, without the LED becoming illuminated. (And, in my opinion, obviate much of the need for these sil…

Yes, you can activate the camera without activating the LED. The LED is not directly wired to the power supply.[0]

[0]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/18...

Edit in Reply: Not necessarily. It's probably still possible on modern Apple hardware, albeit with a lot of firmware hacking, according to the authors of the paper: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/117937/how-to-use-i...

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#30

Post by lechevalierd3on »

joshavant wrote: post #26

Without having looked at any wiring schematics for the iSight module... does anyone know if it's even possible to apply power to the iSight hardware module, without the LED becoming illuminated? I would presume the LED is wired directly to the module's power. Then, it would be physically impossible to turn on the camera, without the LED becoming illuminated. (And, in my opinion, obviate much of the need for these sil…

I thought that a few years ago someone succeed to take picture with the LED off.
Post reply on HN