NSA Spy Cam Blocker • Hacker News Board

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#41

Post by s_q_b » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:15 PM UTC

usefulcat wrote: post #39

s_q_b wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can also extrapolate a fairly decent image from the microphone, sort of like a make-shift SONAR.

From multiple microphones, perhaps, but from a single microphone? Seems unlikely.

You have an array of microphones in your phone alone, not to mention the speakers, which are just low-fi mics. But in any case, you can do it with one microphone.

E.g. http://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/862.13/students/brandon/index...

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/128735-microsoft-create...

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#42

Post by kaolinite » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:19 PM UTC

s_q_b wrote: post #29

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...

Well, not exactly. At one point you were able to, but the flaw has been fixed for over 5 years now. It affected cameras on some Macs sold between 2006 and 2009 I believe.

Here's the paper describing the flaw: https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2...

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#43

Post by revelation » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:19 PM UTC

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…

As a software developer, I know enough to realize that this is in fact the only solution for this particular problem.

Apple and others have decided they will happily save 1 millionth of a cent for a proper hardware solution and instead relegated camera LED indicator control to software. And obviously, it is impossible to prove that software will not activate the camera without also activating the LED.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#44

Post by SG- » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:20 PM UTC

kefs wrote: post #33

Relevant GCHQ/NSA Program for looking at your webcam dick pics.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_Nerve_%28GCHQ%29

While I'm sure there are other projects at NSA and GCHQ that actually break into targets and records without user knowledge, the Optic Nerve project was meant to simply grab unencrypted video stream data from Yahoo Messenger from people willfully recording themselves while "tapping" parts of the Internet.

Yahoo only decided to provide the option to enable encryption sometime in 2014 after they found about it and it's pretty shameful on their part.

There's mention of MS too with Kinect but I'm not sure if it was sending out encrypted video or simply using weak encryption.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#45

Post by uptown » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:30 PM UTC

dataker wrote: post #7

If anyone is exploiting my system, microphone would be my top priority. Getting image doesn't really tell as much as listening to what, how and when you talk.

Where is the microphone on a MBP?

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#46

Post by tek-cyb-org » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:31 PM UTC

Believe it or not.... This is actually a GREAT business idea. Just him being a politician, and having access to that ultra targeted customer base. Not that this product is actually useful or anything.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#47

Post by Crito » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:33 PM UTC

justaman wrote: post #15

A better idea would have been a "Rand-aid". A sticker in the shape of a band-aid that covers the webcam so you can still close your laptop.

You could even just use band-aids. The cotton section would protect the lens from the adhesive. You could probably even commission a run of them with some sort of branding printed on the back.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#48

Post by fyrabanks » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:41 PM UTC

s_q_b wrote: post #41

usefulcat wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From multiple microphones, perhaps, but from a single microphone? Seems unlikely.

You have an array of microphones in your phone alone, not to mention the speakers, which are just low-fi mics. But in any case, you can do it with one microphone. E.g. http://fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/862.13/students/brandon/index... http://www.extremetech.com/computing/128735-microsoft-create...

That first technique A) is very audibly noticeable B) requires you to put the laptop on a chair and wheel it around the room to make up for the fact that you only have a single microphone.

The second technique basically only understands gestures.

I wouldn't be at all worried about this in the wild...

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#49

Post by kevinnk » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:42 PM UTC

Karunamon wrote: post #38

kevinnk wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I'm okay with the ends justifying the means when the ends are something I like."

Worst case scenario for this "fear mongering": People put sticky tape over / unplug their cameras. Or are you against all instances of causing people to be afraid of something on principle?

Fear mongering has the connotation of making people irrationally afraid for your own benefit, which, yes, I am against in all instances on principle.

Re: NSA Spy Cam Blocker

#50

Post by LordKano » Tue, Apr 07, 2015, 7:42 PM UTC

13years wrote: post #31

kapitalx wrote: post #5

A great way to both raise campaign financing and instill fear

I think the fear came about from people being spied on, not from the campaign. And to not fear unchecked, non transparent power is to be a bit naive.

Unless, of course, one wishes to blame the fear on Snowden's disclosures as opposed to the activity described in said disclosures.