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Software Allows Hackers to Activate MacBook Webcams Without Green Warning Light

You know what I find funny ... is that people think that hackers give a ****** about what they do in front of their computers in the first place. Quit being presumptuous, nobody cares, you're just average. The whole article wreaks of "click farming" ... :rolleyes:
 
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This SHOULD be impossible. I say that because if Apple was smart, they would make it so the light was on the same circuit as the camera. So if power went to the camera, it would have to pass through the light first.
 
hansonjohn590 said:
Have you been living under a rock for the past few months?
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Nope, No rock ... no tin-foil hats either.
PS- You're not Miss Teen USA fyi ...
k23RVQIqLNEPGRDo.standard
 
CyBeRino said:
It is hard-wired, but it turns out there's a way to enable the camera while not lighting up that LED. The camera module has an input called 'standby' to which the LED is also connected. So normally if you put the cam in standby, the LED is off and if you take it out of standby then it's on. This is hardware and you can't use software to control that.

However the camera module, using an alternative firmware on the webcam's controller chip, can be told to disregard the state of that standby input and be controlled by a different input instead. Then, you can keep the standby input such that the LED stays off, while still using the camera module.
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That's not really what I call hard-wired. It should be that the LED and camera sensor share the exact same power source. If power is on, the LED lights up. If power is off, the LED is off and the camera sensor has no power to operate on. That way it would physically impossible to activate the camera without also activating the LED.

Not Quite Right said:
You know what I find funny ... is that people think that hackers give a ****** about what they do in front of their computers in the first place. Quit being presumptuous, nobody cares, you're just average. The whole article wreaks of "click farming" ... :rolleyes:
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That's just as stupid as the "well, if you've got nothing to hide..."-argument.
 
JosephAW said:
You'll notice there is no light on the iPhone's camera. AND you notice that any app can activate the camera without permission.
Apple needs to enhance the security to ask for the camera as it already does for the mic.
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I think the same, who cares about a laptop when you carry your iphone and your ipad to all places including the restroom.

I am sure there is a way that hackers or other spy people could activate your camera on the iphone.

I recently disable icloud photos on my iphone because I find that a lot of time my iphone took photos automatically, after this my iphone stop taking auto photos. This is one of the strangest things I have seen in my iphone.

Some days I find that I have photos taken from my iphone inside my pocket for example, and I can say that it is impossible to do it by myself because after disabling icloud photos I never have a problem again.

I think that there is no way that a spy can see your photos right now with your iphone or ipad without icloud.
 
hansonjohn590 said:
Can't read?

It started before she became teen USA. There were many other people in the same case who got hacked and extorted. You know, ordinary people.

Context clues. Learn to read and interpret.
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I can read just fine, why I've had an above average reading level since grade school ... thanks for asking. :)

Lets look at some facts if one insists on taking paranoia to the next level shall we?

You would have needed to have downloaded a rogue application in the first place to expose your self to the risk. The way TCP/IP works would require your system to open up the session with the other persons system (the rogue app would need to phone home). Remember the other person has no idea what your IP address is and if you are smart you have enabled a software firewall (built-in to OS-X) and an external hardware firewall (your Router) so they can't attack your system externally. Ideally, you should also monitor your outbound sessions so you know what your system is doing and when. Using a good anti-virus and monitoring software puts an end to these risks.
Controlling your user accounts and permissions goes a long way here. Are you using only one user account on your system? If you are you should be using at least three; one you use every day, one to install your apps {admin} and one you allow others to use {guest}. If you do internet banking or buy anything on-line then you should create a fourth user account just for it and only use it on trusted sites with your regular bank account debit/credit card (isolating your banking and purchases with this account). Use a different user account (fifth) with a gift/pre-paid card (or a credit card you have set limits on) when your not sure the store/site is trustworthy. If you do any risky surfing you should use still a different user account setup as a guest account as its permissions can be set to lessen your exposure and besides you can always dump the account and re-create it if it get infected. If you used your regular or admin or banking account that could be painful having to rebuild everything.
Then the last thing here is setup a location to use your system that doesn't allow someone to see or hear anything they shouldn't if you use iSight or any other video chat. And don't forget to shutdown or put to sleep your system (closing the laptop's lid)!
 
cwwilson said:
I take it none of you all have watched Person of Interest? I have already accepted that anything with a camera or microphone in it is being recorded at all times and stored somewhere for use by the government. The telephone companies also work hand and hand with several agencies and give your calls over no questions asked. Not to mention your phone can be cloned within seconds. There are cameras in places you wouldn't even begin to suspect. It is part of life these days, you are being watched without your consent whether you like it or not. Don't do anything bad and you'll be okay.
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It's a TV show. It's not real. Now it's admittedly a very clever premise for a TV show, and borderline possible, but it's not real.
 
when I was a kid I locked the bathroom doors so I wouldn't be embarrassed, now that I am an adult I lock the bathroom door so other people don't get embarrassed

in other words: dear hackers, I hope you enjoy the view!
 
I hate it when I'm right

I've been warning about this for years. I got razzed a fair amount for keeping a piece of black electrical tape over my MacBook's camera. I was called paranoid and worse. Well, looks like I was right. But seriously, I'd have much preferred to have been wrong.

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slffl said:
I would be A LOT more worried about someone accessing my HDD than my webcam. What are you people doing that you are so worried about being recorded? Do you also not go out in public?
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I don't wander around without my pants in public.
 
U guys got it wrong...

I don't think the government really cares about the camera, and a lot more about the microphone, and that doesn't have a light coming on anyways to alert you to its unauthorized use.
I can't help but wonder if the NSA activated all computer user's microphones and recorded every single conversation in the U.S.
That would be scary as that unprecedented level of intrusion would allow the government to strong arm anybody into doing whatever they want.
That doesn't seem so farfetched anymore.
Someone should ask...
 
gnasher729 said:
Do you realise how stupid this comment is?

The problem is that someone managed to turn on the WebCam _without the green warning light_. This doesn't affect video chatting in any way. You _know_ that the camera is on, because that's the whole point of a video chat.

To be in danger, you must (1) download and run software that disables the green warning light. (2) not notice it - if you do a video chat and there is no green warning light, then your video chat is 100% safe, but you know the warning light is not working. And (3) make you run an app or go to a website that turns on your camera, and you won't notice.
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Well it was a joke as I do not have a Mac, nor I do I ever video chat, unless needed. :)
 
interesting...

FBI does the same thing..... isn't that a violation of Apples technology itself...

To say "..the green light should be illuminated when Facetime camera is in use to SHOW its in use..only applied to consumers ?

On the order hand "It's OK for the FBI or some other agency to intercept and allow this ?"

what's the world coming to ?
 
slffl said:
I would be A LOT more worried about someone accessing my HDD than my webcam. What are you people doing that you are so worried about being recorded? Do you also not go out in public?
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You just won dumb post of the day award!!

Most students would have their Mac in their room..... Ummmmm last time I checked people take off clothes, put on clothes, get naked, get crazy, have sex, masturbate, and may do other things in front of their mac that they believe they are doing in private. SO to compare going outside with the possibility that a hacker may hack into their computer while in the privacy of their own home earns you the award. Congrats.

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ZacNicholson said:
I wanna know how to do this. That way when I'm making a tape with a girl the green light won't distract her. The hotter they are the dumber they are.
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I fear for humanity if you are the future.
 
Congratulations !!

I'd be more worried about installing anything that i wasn't sure coming for a trusted source.
 
This is one of the reasons why I dont want the FaceTime camera.
Besides I dont use it as often other than Skype.
I should just snap the camera cable.
 
I don't have to worry about this as my laptop is always closed when at home. I hook it up to a monitor, a mouse and keyboard.
 
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