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Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

mashable.com

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Re: Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

#31

Post by MichaelBurge »

frgewut wrote: post #29
vilda wrote: post #5

I believe the simplest solution on Apple's side is to add a physical indicator of when the camera is on or off. It must not be software controlled, not even on system/FPGA level. Best if attached on power on/off. With a hysteresis so that even quick on/off will be noticed. Edit to add: Here's what may happen if the indicator is software controlled: "iSeeYou: Disabling the MacBook Webcam Indicator LED" https://jschola…

If you enable camera for a fraction of second nobody would notice the change of indicator.

You can have the hardware display for a minimum of 3 seconds.

Re: Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

#32

Post by alister »

vilda wrote: post #5

I believe the simplest solution on Apple's side is to add a physical indicator of when the camera is on or off. It must not be software controlled, not even on system/FPGA level. Best if attached on power on/off. With a hysteresis so that even quick on/off will be noticed. Edit to add: Here's what may happen if the indicator is software controlled: "iSeeYou: Disabling the MacBook Webcam Indicator LED" https://jschola…

Apple's very first camera accessory, the iSight camera, had a physical iris that you could open and close for privacy:

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/50271a61c4aab6c54f9af5...

I thought that was beautiful UI, since you knew that the lens was being blocked; you didn't have to trust that the software/firmware was doing the right thing.

Re: Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

#33

Post by ShaneOwens »

js8 wrote: post #4

As Eric Schmidt has put it: "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." So if you don't want people to know you put a tape over your webcam, maybe you shouldn't do it. ;-)

"You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide" -

Most commonly attributed to Joseph Goebbels in 1933.

Re: Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

#35

Post by frgewut »

MichaelBurge wrote: post #31
frgewut wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you enable camera for a fraction of second nobody would notice the change of indicator.

You can have the hardware display for a minimum of 3 seconds.

Even that wouldn't be enough. And for some environments (e.g. living room) you would need super bright indicator accompanied by sound.

Re: Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

#36

Post by huuu »

js8 wrote: post #4

As Eric Schmidt has put it: "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place." So if you don't want people to know you put a tape over your webcam, maybe you shouldn't do it. ;-)

I commented on this related to a blind programmer: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11887301

Eric Schmidt is wrong.

Re: Even Mark Zuckerberg puts tape over his webcam

#37

Post by df3 »

It's important to point out that Mark Zuckerberg has a much stronger interest in protecting his privacy than the average person. There is a legitimate expectation that an individual, entity or the government would try to hack his webcam or microphone.

This shouldn't justify the practice for average Internet users like you and me, though there's no harm in doing it if it makes you feel safe.

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