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Macbook Pro and iSight makes me paranoid

All sarcasm aside, there is nothing to worry about. There isn't anything interesting to see from the viewpoint of the webcam, and it is by far the least accessible way to monitor someone on a computer. Plus you are using a mac, so the chance of getting malware, especially something that nasty is basically zero. If you are still too worried, don't use the internet. You can't use it without a keyboard, which, even though the chances are almost zero, can be monitored, giving much more information than the iSight. Basically, don't worry about it.
 
Sorry, I had to...

smile-big-brother-is-watching-you-o.jpg


Don't worry, you're fine. Really no one is watching you. The green light would come on if the camera was on.
 
Out of curiosity I activated the theft recovery software "Undercover" that I have installed on my Mac. It submits IP addresses, geolocation information, desktop screenshots and iSight photos once the laptop is marked as stolen.

The green iSight light does come on when that software takes a picture, but does so very briefly (a second or two, tops), and I completely missed it for the first two shots. Only by looking at the timestamps and paying attention around the time the third would be taken did I see it blink.
 
With the new face recognition software in iPhoto, I bet it can tell when you are looking at it and only turns the camera on when its sure you aren't facing it.
 
don't be paranoid, green light on = on, green light off = off. plain and simple.
 
snaky69 said:
You should seek mental help. Nobody is watching, the fact that you're asking about it on an internet forum proves that your life is uninteresting enough that nobody would watch anyway. Unless you have illegal or extramarital stuff going on in the room your laptop is in anyway, why would being watched matter?
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+1 for your response... I say if someone wants to watch me that bad let em... it's funny when people post stuff like worrying about being watched when every step you take is being watched, but people don't walk around with masks on.
 
GGJstudios said:
In this case, it is. Prove otherwise.
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I'm just saying, you can rule out the OP's (and my) idea that someone is watching because nothing is impossible. There is also no way to prove that you're 100% sure either.
 
PAC88 said:
I'm just saying, you can rule out the OP's (and my) idea that someone is watching because nothing is impossible. There is also no way to prove that you're 100% sure either.
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Of course, nothing is impossible. There is not one case of an iSight camera coming on without the green light coming on. Therefore, the light/camera on/off statement IS that simple.
 
GGJstudios said:
Of course, nothing is impossible. There is not one case of an iSight camera coming on without the green light coming on. Therefore, the light/camera on/off statement IS that simple.
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I'm going with you on this one. Think of the camera as a light bulb. If you installed a current pass-through device such as a buzzer where the current went from the switch to the buzzer then to the light bulb, how would you suggest turning on the light bulb without the buzzer going off? The buzzer is triggered by the current passing through it, which is a dumbed down version of how the isight works, but you get the idea.

To suggest that there's a way to circumvent the process would mean a massive conspiracy involving the government and Apple. Apple doesn't care, if they wanted to see you they'd just build in code to steal pictures from your iPhoto... and the US Government can't figure out how to cap a friggin hole in the bottom of the ocean that's spewing oil, and the average politician isn't capable of secretly hiring a hooker. Do you REALLY think they're capable of secretly plotting with Apple to monitor your camera?
 
WOW is this thread serious? You're THAT paranoid but refuse to put something simple like black tape over the webcam. I mean I think no matter what we say, you'll still think it will turn on by itself and spy on you by iSight AND builtin mic, have built in GPS to track your location, built in edge/3G to send back data even if you've disconnected the ethernet and disabled the wifi.

honestly just calm down, go and buy ipsnitch so you can see if there is any unauthorised posting of data to the net. I doubt you will though :rolleyes:
 
scaredpoet said:
And of course, the moral of this story is that if someone comes bearing gifts in the form of an expensive laptop, be wary of their motives and be wary of the software installed.
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Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes
(Beware of Greeks bearing gifts)

It was true then, as it is true now...

As for the OP: I wouldn't worry too much about it, just take care who you lend it to ;)...
 
The webcam and the indicator light are hardwired to receive power at the same moment. If the built in webcam is receiving power, the indicator will come on. If the indicator is not on, then the webcam is not receiving power and is not on.
 
zMudvayne said:
The webcam and the indicator light are hardwired to receive power at the same moment. If the built in webcam is receiving power, the indicator will come on. If the indicator is not on, then the webcam is not receiving power and is not on.
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Yes, it's that simple! I think too many post in this forum, just to take an opposite position, because they love to argue, rather than deal with facts.
 
What makes you think you're so interesting to watch? They'd be bored after like 5 minutes. Unless you're a hot nudist chick or celebrity, I doubt they'd give a crap.
 
bella92108 said:
I'm going with you on this one. Think of the camera as a light bulb. If you installed a current pass-through device such as a buzzer where the current went from the switch to the buzzer then to the light bulb, how would you suggest turning on the light bulb without the buzzer going off? The buzzer is triggered by the current passing through it, which is a dumbed down version of how the isight works, but you get the idea.

To suggest that there's a way to circumvent the process would mean a massive conspiracy involving the government and Apple. Apple doesn't care, if they wanted to see you they'd just build in code to steal pictures from your iPhoto... and the US Government can't figure out how to cap a friggin hole in the bottom of the ocean that's spewing oil, and the average politician isn't capable of secretly hiring a hooker. Do you REALLY think they're capable of secretly plotting with Apple to monitor your camera?
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Indeed. And yet there are so many people out there that actually believe we didn't get to the moon. So funny.
 
If you are that concerned with the risk you should not be unwilling to use tape, a decal, or something else to block the small camera opening.
 
ReallyBigFeet said:
With the new face recognition software in iPhoto, I bet it can tell when you are looking at it and only turns the camera on when its sure you aren't facing it.
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How would it know whether you're looking at the camera or not if the camera isn't on?
 
Don't feel too bad. I cover all of my webcams with happy face stickers I got at the dollar store. Cheap insurance. Maybe not against spying, but at least against accidental activation on skype, etc.

I do a lot of overseas work, and you can't guess the number of times people have accidentally vid skyped me nude, drinking beer, with hookers in their hotel rooms, or wearing bathrobes etc. It happens. It won't to me.
 
macgirl89 said:
What makes you think you're so interesting to watch? They'd be bored after like 5 minutes. Unless you're a hot nudist chick or celebrity, I doubt they'd give a crap.
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I love how people think that out of millions, they'd be a target for spying.
 
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