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Software Allows Hackers to Activate MacBook Webcams Without Green Warning Light
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Sometimes when I'm feeling extra paranoid I'll throw a microfibril cloth over the web cam on my Macbook Air when I feel like rubbing one out, might have to start doing that on the reg
swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
Good point. Apple needs to make and sell iTape. Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in somewhere in China. Only $29.99, plus about $5.00 for AppleCare.
Interesting as all this is, I'd be more concerned about it with my iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone as NONE of those have any type of camera activity light. Granted, those devices are much less likely to be positioned in a way to reveal much of anything except your pocket lint(iPad excepted).
I've been covering my camera ever since my first MacBook (when it's not being used). Everyone thinks I'm insane, but this is exactly what I've always worried about.
Good point. Apple needs to make and sell iTape. Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in somewhere in China. Only $29.99, plus about $5.00 for AppleCare.
Unapologetically tape!
You....
You're also forgetting every iPhone has front and rear facing cameras too. Some of them high definition.
In so far as my own machine there's a weird bar under the shelf just above my iMac display so the view off the webcam is a gray horizontal bar.
Audio - I have multiple audio interfaces hooked to various musical instruments. They might get to the internal mic but what would they record?
Not much but music cranking.
Or - thinking - what if you have an app that always keeps the webcam going to an app of your own? Wouldn't that lock it against external use? What about the mic? Have garageband up and paused in a session going constantly.
You're also forgetting every iPhone has front and rear facing cameras too. Some of them high definition.
In so far as my own machine there's a weird bar under the shelf just above my iMac display so the view off the webcam is a gray horizontal bar.
Audio - I have multiple audio interfaces hooked to various musical instruments. They might get to the internal mic but what would they record?
Not much but music cranking.
Or - thinking - what if you have an app that always keeps the webcam going to an app of your own? Wouldn't that lock it against external use? What about the mic? Have garageband up and paused in a session going constantly.
Inexcusable bad engineering by Apple: "hardware interlock" should be so simple it's immune from software. Which it could easily be.
And Apple misled buyers into thinking it WAS that simple. I'm 99% certain that kind of clear statement was made prior to 2008. The misleading statement could be an honest (but VERY serious) mistake. The bad engineering is just unacceptable, and goes beyond a "mistake"--it could only come from conscious decision-making in the design. Happily remedied in the last 5 years' models, apparently? But I still use one pre-2008 Mac. Lots of people do.
(Aside: I wouldn't mind an on-air light or LCD indicator on all mobile cameras too--fully and simply hard-wired. Google Glass included.)
And Apple misled buyers into thinking it WAS that simple. I'm 99% certain that kind of clear statement was made prior to 2008. The misleading statement could be an honest (but VERY serious) mistake. The bad engineering is just unacceptable, and goes beyond a "mistake"--it could only come from conscious decision-making in the design. Happily remedied in the last 5 years' models, apparently? But I still use one pre-2008 Mac. Lots of people do.
(Aside: I wouldn't mind an on-air light or LCD indicator on all mobile cameras too--fully and simply hard-wired. Google Glass included.)
appleofmy"i";18519432 said:
(...takes pants off...)
Seriously, is this a concern? Somewhat. Hot women, politicians and industry leaders beware! Hairy, sweaty MacRumors users... not so much.
When I got my MacBook the first thing I did was stick a piece of black electrical tape over the camera. I don't Skype, etc. No need for it. The problem is obvious. So is the solution.
I use tape because it's not just what hackers can do, it's more likely what you could do inadvertently. I'm not too crazy about having someone watch me pick my nose or air-dry after I shower.
BTW, a good tape for this purpose is the blue or purple painters masking tape, which doesn't leave a residue and easily goes on and off without any mess. Analog rules!
BTW, a good tape for this purpose is the blue or purple painters masking tape, which doesn't leave a residue and easily goes on and off without any mess. Analog rules!
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I have covered my cam for a few years. Once, I accidentally turned on my cam or left it on. I'm sure it was a boring video stream but I had no idea that I had done it.
iCam
1. SHUT your laptop / put to sleep when you are not using it. No tape required.
2. Shut off your Mac desktop when not in use. Put to sleep & aim screen down to floor / up to ceiling / turn sideways. No tape required.
3. Set up a login on SETTINGS that frequently requires login after short period of non use.
1. SHUT your laptop / put to sleep when you are not using it. No tape required.
2. Shut off your Mac desktop when not in use. Put to sleep & aim screen down to floor / up to ceiling / turn sideways. No tape required.
3. Set up a login on SETTINGS that frequently requires login after short period of non use.
Yeah, but more often than not this type of thing is a miscommunication between Engineering and Marketing.
Someone specifies a "hardware interlock," but it gets implemented as firmware in a microcontroller, and someone else makes a requirement that the micro controller firmware be field upgradeable... etc...
B
I guess it is a good thing that my MBP is in clamshell mode most of the time and my monitor doesn't have a webcam
Because the camera's light, as a hardware feature, should be on no matter what if it is active. This should have nothing to do with software, but apparently it does. Not sure about the iSight camera though since it connects over FireWire and doesn't even seem to get power unless it's being used.