5 ms·

I really don't understand this reasoning at all. If you just block the camera you won't know that your computer is being hacked. The piece of tape isn't going

I really don't understand this reasoning at all. If you just block the camera you won't know that your computer is being hacked. The piece of tape isn't going to stop the hacker from doing much. Knowing my computer is hacked is far more important than stopping the attackers from seeing me. If you have a false positive that is also very concerning and should be dealt with. At the very least I can put a piece of tape over the camera after the light turns on, if I believe it's a false positive.

onion2k 10y ago
At the very least I can put a piece of tape over the camera after the light turns on At which point it's already too late - the hacker has had access to your camera for some period of time, until you notice the light. If you're interested in stopping people seeing you then you've failed. Putting a hardware block on the camera (eg tape) before you're hacked means that the hacker won't ever get access to your camera to see you. The hardware block is about stopping people accessing your camera. It has no effect on anything else. Regardless of what you do with your camera you still have to defend against other ways you can be hacked.
- Houshalter 10y ago
  >At which point it's already too late - the hacker has had access to your camera for some period of time, until you notice the light. Yeah for like 10 seconds. Who cares? The problem with webcams is they can spy on you for days and weeks on end, and record your sensitive conversations.
  - tantalor 10y ago
    Recording conversations has nothing to do with the camera. You might be thinking of the microphone. Should we put a little LED on that too?
    - Houshalter 10y ago
      Yes of course. It should be connected to both. You can't put a piece of tape over a microphone.
      - tantalor 10y ago
        But the microphone is always on if you enable voice activation, e.g., "Okay Google", "Hey Siri", "Hey Cortana". That recognition is handled in software, so no "hacker proof" hardware indicator can distinguish between the use cases. "Hey Siri" works on desktop devices: https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/15/how-to-enable-hands-free-hey-siri-voice-activation-on-macos-sierra/ https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/15/how-to-enable-hands-free-hey-... "Okay Google" was removed from desktop: http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/16/9553051/ok-google-removed-from-chrome-46-desktop http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/16/9553051/ok-google-removed...
        Houshalter 10y ago
        Yes, and I have my own issues with unprompted voice activation for that exact reason. I think that having the mic light always on when you enable voice activation, would go a long way to showing consumers the risks of it. It makes it visually obvious that you are being recorded.

onion2k 10y ago

At the very least I can put a piece of tape over the camera after the light turns on At which point it's already too late - the hacker has had access to your camera for some period of time, until you notice the light. If you're interested in stopping people seeing you then you've failed. Putting a hardware block on the camera (eg tape) before you're hacked means that the hacker won't ever get access to your camera to see you. The hardware block is about stopping people accessing your camera. It has no effect on anything else. Regardless of what you do with your camera you still have to defend against other ways you can be hacked.

Houshalter 10y ago
>At which point it's already too late - the hacker has had access to your camera for some period of time, until you notice the light. Yeah for like 10 seconds. Who cares? The problem with webcams is they can spy on you for days and weeks on end, and record your sensitive conversations.
- tantalor 10y ago
  Recording conversations has nothing to do with the camera. You might be thinking of the microphone. Should we put a little LED on that too?
  - Houshalter 10y ago
    Yes of course. It should be connected to both. You can't put a piece of tape over a microphone.
    - tantalor 10y ago
      But the microphone is always on if you enable voice activation, e.g., "Okay Google", "Hey Siri", "Hey Cortana". That recognition is handled in software, so no "hacker proof" hardware indicator can distinguish between the use cases. "Hey Siri" works on desktop devices: https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/15/how-to-enable-hands-free-hey-siri-voice-activation-on-macos-sierra/ https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/15/how-to-enable-hands-free-hey-... "Okay Google" was removed from desktop: http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/16/9553051/ok-google-removed-from-chrome-46-desktop http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/16/9553051/ok-google-removed...
      - Houshalter 10y ago
        Yes, and I have my own issues with unprompted voice activation for that exact reason. I think that having the mic light always on when you enable voice activation, would go a long way to showing consumers the risks of it. It makes it visually obvious that you are being recorded.