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Macbook Pro and iSight makes me paranoid
- Thread starter emir
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i understand where you are coming from. i noticed the light coming on when i wasn't using any app that would require isight. my husband also has a mac and is much more proficient than i am with them... i wondered if it could be him spying on me since he knows my password, but i have nothing to hide. i'm not doing anything wrong and its still an invasion of privacy. now i can't even figure out how to be sure it isn't happening.
GGJstudios
macrumors Westmere
If the light is on, the cam is on. If the light is off, the cam is off. If you want to be certain that it can't come on and someone see you, simply cover the cam with tape or paper.
Fubar1977
macrumors 6502a
Isn`t there commercially available software which can be used to activate the iSight camera on a stolen Macbook?
Seem to remember reading about this somewhere, wouldn`t be very effective if it turned on the light though.
If the light can be controlled seperately by software then it would be possible to do this.
That said, in 3 laptops over about 5 years or so I have never even considered that the camera might be used in this way.
Still not gonna worry about it now, dont spend much time using it naked!!
Seem to remember reading about this somewhere, wouldn`t be very effective if it turned on the light though.
If the light can be controlled seperately by software then it would be possible to do this.
That said, in 3 laptops over about 5 years or so I have never even considered that the camera might be used in this way.
Still not gonna worry about it now, dont spend much time using it naked!!
When in front of the camera I wear my Richard M. Nixon Halloween mask, just in case. Yes, I know it's cruel, but the spies get what they deserve.
Well, Here's my take.
If someone in the government wanted to spy on you, I'm sure they could.
We already know Microsoft has a dongle that bypasses windows admin security, they have given it to various law-enforcement agencies.
I'm sure that Apple has something along the same lines - maybe not a dongle, but I'm positive the NSA has a way to root pretty much any system out there.....perhaps even without physical access.
Call me crazy, call me stupid. But I'm going to guess that the NSA can do far more than your average haxor.
UPDATE: According to this article I'm wrong, but....you never know.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/sorry-conspiracy-buffs-theres-no-windows-back-door/435
If someone in the government wanted to spy on you, I'm sure they could.
We already know Microsoft has a dongle that bypasses windows admin security, they have given it to various law-enforcement agencies.
I'm sure that Apple has something along the same lines - maybe not a dongle, but I'm positive the NSA has a way to root pretty much any system out there.....perhaps even without physical access.
Call me crazy, call me stupid. But I'm going to guess that the NSA can do far more than your average haxor.
UPDATE: According to this article I'm wrong, but....you never know.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/sorry-conspiracy-buffs-theres-no-windows-back-door/435
I remember one of the thief-preventing app takes your picture whenever you turn on your MacBook. I don't see the green light turn on but the picture was taken.
costabunny
macrumors 68020
cue the second item in the four-piece all-fix kit - Duct Tape!
(4 piece kit = WD40 (for things not moving when they should, Duct Tape for things moving when they shouldn't, Screwdriver and Hammer (for those things that the WD40 cannot handle).....
(4 piece kit = WD40 (for things not moving when they should, Duct Tape for things moving when they shouldn't, Screwdriver and Hammer (for those things that the WD40 cannot handle).....
millertime021
macrumors 6502a
This is why I always sit in front of my MBP... naked... with the screen tilted down a bit.
If you're gonna take the time to haxor my computer then I might as well give you a show. 😉
If you're gonna take the time to haxor my computer then I might as well give you a show. 😉
What if... I were to break in to your house, break your green light, sneak back out, then spy on you. Nothing's impossible. 😉
GGJstudios
macrumors Westmere
You wouldn't live long enough to make it to the second step in the process! 😱 This is Texas!
"Homeowner shoots would-be burglar"
"El Paso, TX homeowner shoots violent burglar in self defense"
"Homeowner Shoots Suspected Burglar"
"Homeowner fatally shoots burglary suspect"
"Man Shoots Burglars As 911 Dispatcher Tries To Talk Him Out Of It"
"El Paso, TX homeowner shoots violent burglar in self defense"
"Homeowner Shoots Suspected Burglar"
"Homeowner fatally shoots burglary suspect"
"Man Shoots Burglars As 911 Dispatcher Tries To Talk Him Out Of It"
millertime021
macrumors 6502a
I see. Well then I guess you win good sir.
That's how it is in AZ now since we don't need a license to carry concealed weapons anymore. 😎
That's how it is in AZ now since we don't need a license to carry concealed weapons anymore. 😎
mrsir2009
macrumors 604
So what if someone is watching you sitting at your computer and typing? Oh, and for anything to use your camera online, access needs to be granted. And Macs don't get spyware either 😀
Rithem
macrumors 6502
When i bought my first iMac in early 06, the isight camera was a new thing to me, and seeing cameras built into computers was pretty cool..
But i still kept a post it over it cuz of this... hahahhaha
After a week i was like what the heck. and threw it away.
Yeah.....no one is watching you do that thing you do...
But i still kept a post it over it cuz of this... hahahhaha
After a week i was like what the heck. and threw it away.
Yeah.....no one is watching you do that thing you do...
It is not possible to disable the green light in software. It's hardwired to the sensor. Unless you open up your Mac and cut some cables, you'll always have the green light when the camera is in use.
I have a piece of a post-it over my MBP camera.
A lot of hostility in this thread for what is a wide spread concern, especially for people not using Macs which is the majority of the world.
P.S. Yes, I am important enough that people would want to watch me...
A lot of hostility in this thread for what is a wide spread concern, especially for people not using Macs which is the majority of the world.
P.S. Yes, I am important enough that people would want to watch me...
I always feel like, somebody's watching meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
If you really think someone is watching you, then give the finger occasionally.
If you really think someone is watching you, then give the finger occasionally.
I say, let them watch us! Go right ahead, watch me when I use my Mac in the nude, I have nothing to be ashamed of. And neither should you (nothing wrong with a little fat).
No human is important, remember it.
And gee, someone beat me to the nude joke, how obvious.
No human is important, remember it.
And gee, someone beat me to the nude joke, how obvious.
BobbyCarbn
macrumors regular
Just use this and stop worrying http://techslaves.org/isight-disabler/
You can also go into the midi utility and mute your internal mic.
You can also go into the midi utility and mute your internal mic.
if you are going to say it at least spell it right, say it with me "paedophile" that wasn't hard.
1) they would need root access to install it
2) to disable the light they would need to physically tamper with it