2020 iPad Pro Includes Microphone Hardware Disconnect Security Feature

[Dave-Z]

The thing I love about the Mac is that the camera and green light are linked together through hardware.

Software Allows Hackers to Activate MacBook Webcams Without Green Warning Light

A recently resolved criminal case shows how a man was able to hack a high school classmate's laptop in order to take nude photographs with her computer's camera without her knowledge, before attempting to use the images to extort her, reports The Washington Post.

www.macrumors.com

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Yet more Apple privacy goodness. This is where Apple shines. I will never go Android because I will never trust it.

Not about Android, specifically, but other computer hardware vendors include hardware cut offs for cameras. HP and Lenovo both have models that have a mechanical switch to either block or otherwise physically disconnect the camera. I would personally prefer those because I don't want things like that camera (or mic) being enabled even when I'm using my device. Because I almost never use the camera or mic, I would rather enable that stuff only when I need to.

 

[dilbert99]

Siri works really well for me and I would like it to work even if I have a keyboard case with the cover closed. I hope they have a setting for that.

And this isn’t just about Siri. What if I’m recording a voice memo or something similar. I used to do that a lot with the Smart cover on my iPad 2 to record lectures at the university.

I doubt it. It is a hardware feature. I'm taking this to mean that it has a magnetic reed switch that disconnects the microphone.
So can't be overridden in software.
I guess it could be overridden by a hardware switch.
Not sure why they didn't just go with a hardware sliding button which would at least give the users choice.

I guess that is just Apples MO, do what 80% might want and annoy the 20% that don't. (percentages not real, insert what ever percentage you feel is right when reading it.)

 

[Tech198]

"...which includes a hardware microphone disconnect feature that disables the mics when the notebook's lid is closed."

That doesn't sound very reassuring for older generations.

 

[mijail]

2. The WP article references tests done on older (2007/08 MacBooks)

Apple, Please Give Us a Fix — a Guarantee — that Our iSight Webcams Are Safe | TIME.com

Hackable webcams are the ultimate privacy compromise.

techland.time.com

Again, the WP article says "While the research focused on MacBook and iMac models released before 2008, the authors say similar techniques could work on more recent computers from a wide variety of vendors."

 

[unplugme71]

The thing I love about the Mac is that the camera and green light are linked together through hardware. If the camera is switched on, that light will show. Because of that, I’ve never worried about a cover on my laptop.

Until you find out the LED died.