Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Are people watching me through my webcam!?!

N

nokiaapplefan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 27, 2017
2
0
HELP!

I am scared i have been spied on through my macbooks webcam, if someone was watching me through my webcam would the green light next to the webcam light up? Help me im really scared!
 
keysofanxiety said:
The hardware of the webcam is wired to come up with the green light when activated. There's literally no way it can be activated and not light up.

This isn't a software or firmware setting, so it's not something that can be bypassed. No need for concern. :)
Click to expand...

Only listen to this post, not the other guys. No need to buy electrical tape or anything. Now furthermore, even if you are seeing a constant green light, it's more likely that an app, such as FaceTime or PhotoBooth got stuck and didn't close properly than someone watching you. In fact, I'm pegging the likelihood of your webcam getting hacked, at about 0,005%
 
nokiaapplefan said:
HELP!

I am scared i have been spied on through my macbooks webcam, if someone was watching me through my webcam would the green light next to the webcam light up? Help me im really scared!
Click to expand...

If it's a really, really old system, then it's possible to activate the camera with the light off. For newer system's, it's highly unlikely.

Read this, as well as the paper discussed there, for more info:

http://hub.jhu.edu/2013/12/23/webcam-hacking-research/

Again ... it depends on how old your system is. Since you never stated the exact model of MacBook you have (and poster sig's are not something that I can view,) then I hesitate to just blindly state that you're fine.
 
casperes1996 said:
Only listen to this post, not the other guys. No need to buy electrical tape or anything. Now furthermore, even if you are seeing a constant green light, it's more likely that an app, such as FaceTime or PhotoBooth got stuck and didn't close properly than someone watching you. In fact, I'm pegging the likelihood of your webcam getting hacked, at about 0,005%
Click to expand...

honestly, am not suggesting anyone tape electrical tape over their webcam (there are, if necessary, better solutions)...
 
nokiaapplefan said:
HELP!

I am scared i have been spied on through my macbooks webcam, if someone was watching me through my webcam would the green light next to the webcam light up? Help me im really scared!
Click to expand...
If someone has access to your webcam then that is the LEAST of your concerns as it also means they have access to everything you have typed including usernames and passwords to your banking sites, and all the files on your computer and any storage it has access to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arkitect
I hardly ever use the webcam, so I just cut out a small patch of black electrical tape - just so it covers the webcam. This way you can hardly see the tape, and you don't have to worry. You can always get hacked. Just look at various big tech leaders, they almost always have tape over their laptop webcams.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Moi Ici
Mac32 said:
I hardly ever use the webcam, so I just cut out a small patch of black electrical tape - just so it covers the webcam. This way you can hardly see the tape, and you don't have to worry out about it. You can always get hacked. Just look at various big tech leaders, they almost always have tape over their laptop webcams.
Click to expand...
And I instantly rip that off when I see it on a user's computer in my office. I have NEVER seen a company actually put tape over a webcam. USERS do that and USERS have no idea what they are doing, which is WHY they do it.


To me, that is just a screaming "I have no idea how computers really work and watch too many movies". As I've said, if a person can control your camera that is the LAST of your issues as they have likely already logged all you banking and other account info from any websites you have visited. In fact seeing that Green LED and seeing it on would be a warning that you should wipe your computer immediately.
 
  • Like
Reactions: T'hain Esh Kelch, Jayderek, arkitect and 2 others
AltecX said:
To me, that is just a screaming "I have no idea how computers really work and watch too many movies". As I've said, if a person can control your camera that is the LAST of your issues as they have likely already logged all you banking and other account info from any websites you have visited. In fact seeing that Green LED and seeing it on would be a warning that you should wipe your computer immediately.
Click to expand...

Or the more likely scenario - that you forgot to close FaceTime/Photobooth when you checked if you had meat between your teeth, or just decided to do funny faces. Getting access to a remote computer to the point where you can control hardware like that is no easy task.
 
[doublepost=1488826257][/doublepost]
casperes1996 said:
Or the more likely scenario - that you forgot to close FaceTime/Photobooth when you checked if you had meat between your teeth, or just decided to do funny faces. Getting access to a remote computer to the point where you can control hardware like that is no easy task.
Click to expand...
Exactly my point.
 
ahostmadsen said:
I think people here are too dismissive of the the concern. It might not be an outsider hacker, but someone with access to your computer, a friend for example (that is, someone you thought was a friend).
Click to expand...

OK, sure - But even then, there's no way of doing it in a way where the green LED doesn't light up at least on newer machines
 
  • Like
Reactions: atlas_0
casperes1996 said:
OK, sure - But even then, there's no way of doing it in a way where the green LED doesn't light up at least on newer machines
Click to expand...

Yep. Unless you're disassembling the display section to remove the LED or disconnect it, it's going to come on.

And IIRC, Apple has a hardware failsafe to disable the webcam if the LED is disabled.
 
Doubtful that this thread was started by someone serious.

It was a joke posted by a new user who hasn't followed through on his question.
 
casperes1996 said:
Only listen to this post, not the other guys. No need to buy electrical tape or anything. Now furthermore, even if you are seeing a constant green light, it's more likely that an app, such as FaceTime or PhotoBooth got stuck and didn't close properly than someone watching you. In fact, I'm pegging the likelihood of your webcam getting hacked, at about 0,005%
Click to expand...
Are you sure? Because, I was in a skype call, and turned on my facecam to show my friends my dog. I then turned it off later, but the green light is still on. I also have no apps up that could be taking video, (facetime, etc.) nor opened any. So, I'm afraid somebody's spying on me. Do you have any reccomendations?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back