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Can iSight watch me unaware?

M

MacVault

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 10, 2002
1,144
59
Planet Earth
I just bought a new MacBook. My wife insists I cover up the iSight with paper or something when not in use. Is there any way the iSight can be on and watching without at least alerting you to it with the green light next to it? I mean is it like if the iSight is "powered" the green LED will also be powered - in a "hard-wired" sort of way???

My wife was also worried about the microphone listening in on us. So for the mic I said ok, go to System Prefs -> Sound -> and lower the Mic input volume all the way. Well it still registers the audio level when we talk or snap our fingers! We're both SHOCKED! Isn't there any way to really TURN THE MIC OFF in the software?

My wife heard that Google has plans to listen in on everyone with a Mic. Now she thinks they might be watching too.

What are everyone's thoughts on this? Any proof out there either way on these concerns???
 
Err, no unless the green light breaks.

No offense, but did you guys have a bad expierence or something?
 
MacVault said:
What are everyone's thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
I think you should both refrain from watching "24" or "LOST" or any other number of current television offerings. ;)

Honestly though, computers have had built-in mics for years and never really had issues (I think). And I do think it's been brought up before, but the iSight's green light has to be on in order for the camera to work*.




*note, I've no personal experience w/ iSights, just what I've read here on MR.
 
That google thing is a plan/rumor about the search giant possibly-maybe-considering-thinking about listening to what you're talking about for targeted adverts (e.g. you say 'what film should we see', an ad for Harry Potter)...it has by no means happened yet...
 
MacVault said:
What are everyone's thoughts on this? Any proof out there either way on these concerns???
Click to expand...

It's not like Macs have even had a virus, much less been hacked into to display a video feed back to some criminal/pervert mastermind.

My thoughts: Stop hanging around Mel Gibson.

picture1rw8.png
 
For what it's worth, the only ways a web browser can access your webcam are via a Java or Flash embed. I know Flash has a built-in standard prompt that lets the user know and accept/reject the embedded object's request. With Java... I'm not 100% certain, but I think it might require a signed/certified applet, and the process where you accept the activation of the applet would give you a check and balance.

But seriously... meh. Cover it with tape if you want, but it protects you about as much as wrapping your head in foil protects you from the alien brain readers.
 
mkrishnan said:
But seriously... meh. Cover it with tape if you want, but it protects you about as much as wrapping your head in foil protects you from the alien brain readers.
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That's why I'm still safe. :p *crinkle*
 
devilot said:
I think you should both refrain from watching "24" or "LOST" or any other number of current television offerings. ;)
Click to expand...

HAHA.. agreed.

yeah i wouldnt be worried. when the isight is in use, the light is on. its that simple.
 
virus1 said:
HAHA.. agreed.

yeah i wouldnt be worried. when the isight is in use, the light is on. its that simple.
Click to expand...

Oh, really... Like when one country preempts another country on the other side of the world, it's because of... ah, yea, you get the point. :D

Do you really beleive every official story???
 
This has worried me from time to time. When I have the other pimps, murderers and terrorists are round for a game of cards I do worry about who's watching. I mean I shut the blinds but the enemy is within now.
 
That is one of the funniest things I have heard all year.

Seriously, if you're that much of a outside-the-box conspiracy theorist spank me with my george orwell the president is just a puppet some super secret ultra weathly group really controls the whole world yada yada yada - then an iSight or a mic is really the least of your problems as they've already got everything on you and have you right where they need you if they ever do you're already on the list got a file and they've already catalogued this thread.

Question is if any or all of that is in any way true, should that really change how you live your life, what you gonna do about, cause bet your bottom dollar, right around the time you started, poop, you'd just disappear like a no longer needed dock icon.
 
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