So does Mark Zuckerberg.
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Apple Warns Against Closing MacBooks With a Cover Over the Camera
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A 'privacy cover'..... 'Only in America' is the phrase that comes to mind!
As Apple states, the camera cannot come on without the light coming on so that's a first clue in the (very) unlikely event that it's been hacked. If you have decent firewall/anti-virus software then I'm not even sure how this is even going to happen anyway (unless you are one of those people that click on the link in those incredibly obvious scam emails).
Also, IF you do get hacked, I'm sure a privacy cover on your camera should be the least of your issues as the hackers will be able to get into more than just your camera!
So because he is a former FBI makes him less paranoid than anyone else? people's cameras don't just get hacked out of the blue.
The web camera and green light are on the same circuit. You cannot run the webcam without the light being on.
Unless you are a CEO or government employee, where presumably people care about you enough to open your Mac and rewire that behavior, you are fine.
Unless you are a CEO or government employee, where presumably people care about you enough to open your Mac and rewire that behavior, you are fine.
I suppose but if someone was really that interested in breaking into my Mac I'd be far more worried about the data on it. If you turn the camera on while I'm using it you're just going to see an unflattering angle of my ugly mug, not sure why anyone would necessarily want that. (this of course only applies to notebooks not desktops that are always exposed)
Just use a post-it note (or equivalent). Tear off a small piece, And leave an unsticky handle so that it’s reusable.
A thin sheet of paper has to be ok, because Apple packs them with one.
A thin sheet of paper has to be ok, because Apple packs them with one.
Feeling guilty, feeling scared, hidden cameras everywhere. Stop! Hold on, stay in control...
Also, be careful and make sure there’s nothing near the hinge. If there’s a small pebble there and you close the lid, it’ll crack the bottom bezel.
Huh?
Thought those Webcams on the MacBooks were so bad that there just isn't any point in covering them up 🤑
Thought those Webcams on the MacBooks were so bad that there just isn't any point in covering them up 🤑
The cybersecurity "experts" at our work did that and I pointed out to them that it's a insignificant risk compared to microphones and KVM hacking. Anybody walking by an window could get the same view as the webcam, but we don't block windows. If you take your clothes off in your office, you got bigger problems.
On the other hand, they were deploying obsolete VOIP phones that were accessible from the desktop LAN with known flaws where you could listen in without any indication.
Webcam covers are mostly security theater.
I use one not for paranoia against subversive access, but for the various meeting apps (which I have no control over) that default to enabling the camera while I'm working 'freely' at home.
Those hacks do not. But it's possible to take stills where the light only lights up for a millisecond.
from former Apple engineer regarding security of the webcams now:
arn
If Apple would stop obsessing over making everything wafer-thin then this probably wouldn't be an issue. Why does using a screen privacy protector risk damaging the PC?
We're a long way from the early days of Apple. I think the 1984 ad was prescient - Apple's gone from making PCs that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use to making (for the most part) pretty social-media boxes. Now it's like buying a car. It's all about either avoiding repairs or dealerproofing Apple products so you don't get shafted on a visit to the Apple Store.
We're a long way from the early days of Apple. I think the 1984 ad was prescient - Apple's gone from making PCs that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use to making (for the most part) pretty social-media boxes. Now it's like buying a car. It's all about either avoiding repairs or dealerproofing Apple products so you don't get shafted on a visit to the Apple Store.
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Just have webcam shutter privacy built in like most products on the market then you don't have to deal with consequences of band aid solutions.
On Macs equipped with T2 security chip, T2 acts as a gateway to both the microphone and camera. It is not possible for apps or even system level code to bypass the green LED indicator light when accessing camera.
If you think the green light is not prominent enough, and you almost never use the camera, then I suppose putting a tape or cover over the camera lens make some sense.
it's amazing right? Yet their computer security is an absolute disaster. Reusing same passwords, no backups, spyware running on their systems, and the list goes on
I have one of these camera covers. I simply can’t rely on a green light to prevent embarrassment when I accidentally activate my camera during a team meeting, when I’m sat on the sofa in my pants, eating ramen noodles with a head like a robber’s dog.
Nothing to do with hackers, security or the NSA. It’s to protect me from my own stupidity and God knows I can be stupid.
Nothing to do with hackers, security or the NSA. It’s to protect me from my own stupidity and God knows I can be stupid.
The circuit is still not physically connected, the camera could be used if the T2 gets cracked(unlikely I know). Apple should physically wire it so that if the camera is powered the light will light up. Then there would be no way to access the camera without the light turning on.
No one covers up the microphones on their computers which I think would be a much bigger issue than the webcam. Also no one covers up the camera on their phone they stare at 6 hours a day. If people want to be paranoid I want to see some consistency at least.
I've been using OverSight (https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html) for a couple of years now. It's a utility that shows notifications when your camera becomes active and allows you to whitelist/blacklist applications that need camera access. AFAIK it only works with the integrated camera, not any other USB cameras.