5 ms·

People always go on about covering up your camera, but what should I do about my hardwired microphone? I'm vastly more likely to say sensitive data out loud tha

by egwynn 8y ago

People always go on about covering up your camera, but what should I do about my hardwired microphone? I'm vastly more likely to say sensitive data out loud than I am to mime it out or write it down and hold it up on a sign.

tauwauwau 8y ago
I use Windows and always disable microphone and webcam and any other device when not in use from device manager.
- egwynn 8y ago
  But the point of the “cover up your camera” intervention is that it’s “out of band” from your system software. Even if there’s a root/administrator-level compromise, light just won’t get past the piece of paper/cardboard onto the sensor. I don’t believe there’s an analagous intervention for the microphone.
  - tauwauwau 8y ago
    You're right, my comment was regarding microphone. I do cover webcam when not in use along with phone camera.
  - paulie_a 8y ago
    Stab it with a pin a few times?
  - reshie 8y ago
    maybe tissue that goes into the hole and over with tape tight. test with recording.
HackPotter 8y ago
Since I realized that I never actually use my laptop's built-in camera or microphone, I disabled them both at a bios level and made sure that the necessary drivers are not installed. If I need to get on a video or voice call with my laptop (once in a blue moon), I have a USB webcam and microphone that work just fine.
sakisv 8y ago
Recently I was sent a blackmail email that contained a password that I used to use in the past and the sender was claiming that they had also gained to my laptop's camera and had recordings of me watching porn or other "embarrassing" stuff. They threatened to send these recordings to my contacts on email and/or facebook etc, unless I paid them $1082 in bitcoins (apparently they read that if you ask for a non-round number you have more chances of getting it :P). Covering your camera is supposed to protect you from this kind of things, especially for younger ages or for people less technologically inclined.
- 0xb100db1ade 8y ago
  I assume you know this, but just in case: Note that they may have gotten the password from a hacked website--not from your webcam/microphone. Check out https://haveibeenpwned.com/ https://haveibeenpwned.com/
  - sakisv 8y ago
    Indeed I know it and it's how I knew for some time that the password in question had been leaked.
    - bklaasen 8y ago
      I knew all of that too, but it didn't prevent a very unpleasant visceral response in the pit of my stomach when I saw that email come in with the old compromised password on the subject line. The content of the email made me laugh, though.
pat2man 8y ago
Get a new MacBook. Hardware based disconnect for the microphone and the camera.
- gruez 8y ago
  ...only if the lid is closed. great for if you're not using the laptop, not so great when you're currently using it.
  - sbuk 8y ago
    There’s always Micro Snitch[0]. It not a hardware switch, but it arguably the next best thing. [0]https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html

by egwynn 8y ago

tauwauwau 8y ago

I use Windows and always disable microphone and webcam and any other device when not in use from device manager.

egwynn 8y ago
But the point of the “cover up your camera” intervention is that it’s “out of band” from your system software. Even if there’s a root/administrator-level compromise, light just won’t get past the piece of paper/cardboard onto the sensor. I don’t believe there’s an analagous intervention for the microphone.
- tauwauwau 8y ago
  You're right, my comment was regarding microphone. I do cover webcam when not in use along with phone camera.
- paulie_a 8y ago
  Stab it with a pin a few times?
- reshie 8y ago
  maybe tissue that goes into the hole and over with tape tight. test with recording.

HackPotter 8y ago

Since I realized that I never actually use my laptop's built-in camera or microphone, I disabled them both at a bios level and made sure that the necessary drivers are not installed. If I need to get on a video or voice call with my laptop (once in a blue moon), I have a USB webcam and microphone that work just fine.

sakisv 8y ago

Recently I was sent a blackmail email that contained a password that I used to use in the past and the sender was claiming that they had also gained to my laptop's camera and had recordings of me watching porn or other "embarrassing" stuff. They threatened to send these recordings to my contacts on email and/or facebook etc, unless I paid them $1082 in bitcoins (apparently they read that if you ask for a non-round number you have more chances of getting it :P). Covering your camera is supposed to protect you from this kind of things, especially for younger ages or for people less technologically inclined.

0xb100db1ade 8y ago
I assume you know this, but just in case: Note that they may have gotten the password from a hacked website--not from your webcam/microphone. Check out https://haveibeenpwned.com/ https://haveibeenpwned.com/
- sakisv 8y ago
  Indeed I know it and it's how I knew for some time that the password in question had been leaked.
  - bklaasen 8y ago
    I knew all of that too, but it didn't prevent a very unpleasant visceral response in the pit of my stomach when I saw that email come in with the old compromised password on the subject line. The content of the email made me laugh, though.

pat2man 8y ago

Get a new MacBook. Hardware based disconnect for the microphone and the camera.

gruez 8y ago
...only if the lid is closed. great for if you're not using the laptop, not so great when you're currently using it.
- sbuk 8y ago
  There’s always Micro Snitch[0]. It not a hardware switch, but it arguably the next best thing. [0]https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html