Software Allows Hackers to Activate MacBook Webcams Without Green Warning Light

[MattInOz]

Here's the most informative post/discussion I've found on the topic of the green light and camera: http://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/141508/

Even if the green LED were hard-wired in series with the power going to the camera chip, a Bad Guy who managed to hack your machine could still take snapshots of such brevity that you probably could not see the LED blink.

If this whole thing is a concern to you, do the tape trick. But I'd suggest using a translucent tape since the Ambient Light Sensor is adjacent to the iSight camera in at least most models.

And while you're at it, get a plastic "dead plug" to cut off the microphone.

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Update: Ars has a nifty discussion, complete with schematic. http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/12/perv-utopia-light-on-macbook-webcams-can-be-bypassed/

The good news: the LED is hard-wired to the camera's enable line.

The bad news: It's possible, on some older Macs, to reprogram the camera so it disregards the enable line.

To my mind a very short flash would draw attention especially if it was on the edges of your vision which is geared around drawing attention. How long does the camera take to power up and deliver first image?

 

[gnasher729]

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.

You can read the PDF file that comes with the article carefully. One thing about this hack: It can only be applied when the camera is first turned on after your Mac is booted. So to be safe: Start Photo Booth. Check that the green light is on. If it is on, you are safe until the next time you start your Mac. If it is not on, then most likely the LCD light is broken, _or_ this hack is installed, but it doesn't really matter which one because either way it means you can't detect if the camera is turned on.

 

[Tech198]

You can read the PDF file that comes with the article carefully. One thing about this hack: It can only be applied when the camera is first turned on after your Mac is booted. So to be safe: Start Photo Booth. Check that the green light is on. If it is on, you are safe until the next time you start your Mac. If it is not on, then most likely the LCD light is broken, _or_ his hack is installed, but it doesn't really matter which one because either way it means you can't detect if the camera is turned on.

So, does that mean it must be installed or not ?

 

[joepunk]

I can finally gloat in public that I am using a computer w/o a webcam from 2004

Oh, and those who say just put tape over the cam and don't worry. That tape is just a band-aid to a much larger problem.

 

[slimjimtx]

Simple solition

Wouldn't it be simple and easy enough to have one of those sliding pieces (of plastic or metal) in front of the lens to ensure that the camera can't see anything without the user's consent? It may not be the "prettiest" thing to have on an Apple computer, but it'd sure be prettier than the piece of electrical tape I use to cover mine...

 

[Gutwrench]

I just checked and none of my devices have been hacked this exploit.

 

[hleewell]

Again, I don't think that's in evidence. There are plenty of things that go on on the internet's dark underbelly that the general population isn't aware of.

It's fine to ask if hleewell's incident happened on a Mac, but it's clear at this point that it can be done at least for older Macs and older OSes.

B

It happened on a MacBook Aluminum 2008.
That ******* posted a screenshot in some forum.
He has since deleted that post.

I also knew a guy who went into my bedroom during
a party and switched on my iMac G5 with his cellphone.
I don't know how he did it. But I suspect he may be part
of this hacker gang that play a prank on me. I don't know
how he did it but he pressed some buttons on his cellphone
and my iMac went "Bong!" That little ***** smiled at me
like as if he had accomplished something significant in his
life. I suspect there could be a bug planted in the machine somehow.

Then the MacBook incident...

I never used it again and I plan to trade it in

 

[MacGekko]

What none of the articles answers is how does a hacker or the government install this webcam spy program on a computer?

Most of the articles state it can be placed on a computer without the user's knowledge but they never state how they can do this, does anyone know?

Now there is an article that this can be done to an Iphone, well how do they do it, does the user have to click a link they send them in an email or do they have to visit a website that was compromised by the hacker?

 

[Peter Franks]

This has come up on the news yet again, and was wondering if anyone takes this seriously, and what preventatives are there? Other than taping up camera which seems a bit over the top.

My main questions are...

If you never use a cam, can you disconnect it?
Can it only be done if someone has had access to your laptop?
or
Can it only be installed if you type password that comes up for installing software?

 

[Peter Franks]

is there nothing to add to this anymore, nobody found fixes to stop it happening?