4 ms·

I’d be way more worried about someone putting a keylogger on my laptop versus them taking control of the webcam.

colejohnson66 5y ago
Exactly. If someone can see through my webcam, I have more to worry about than them seeing my room. I get the appeal of webcam covers; they’re a quick and simple alleviation to the idea of a “peeping Tom”, but if someone can see through your camera when you don’t want them to, they probably already have control of other things on the computer. They could install a keylogger and siphon my documents/photos for more blackmail material. Maybe I’m just dense because it never happened to me (AFAIK), but am I wrong?
- batch12 5y ago
  Why not defend against both scenarios?
  - colejohnson66 5y ago
    I’m not saying we shouldn’t. I actually think manufacturers should go a step further and add physical kill switches to webcams. That would allow cutting off the audio as well. I’m just saying that a sticker seems to be a bandaid on a possibly bigger issue.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      There are very few physical switches and ports on most modern laptops. How many people out of the 99 who don't care are willing to pay for the physical (and not just "physical" as in triggers software) killing of audio and video for the one (if that) who cares? I know I'm not.
      - jimhefferon 5y ago
        I am, for one.
- XorNot 5y ago
  "Someone" getting control of my webcam bothers me a lot less then "my workplace's invasive monitoring software (which can be deployed at any time in the future if its not there now) is collecting images of my home workplace. My webcam on my own computers, no real fear. When that same device is USB connected to a work supplied computer? Zero trust.
remram 5y ago
I use a webcam cover, but I'm not worried about people hacking into my laptop. What I'm defending against is one of the many apps I have to use for conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet, Bluejeans, Teams) starting up with the camera on when I'm not expecting it (and e.g. not wearing a shirt, my wife getting ready in the background, etc) for example because it was on last time I used that particular app.
- ghaff 5y ago
  That is probably the main concern for most people. I conference from my office and I simply don't go in there if I'm not presentable at some level. But if you're conferencing from your bedroom, especially with another person, it would be super-easy to mess up with an early morning video call.
- kevincox 5y ago
  For browser-based conferencing you can simply require them to ask for camera access every time. But that won't help you for tools with their own apps. One of the many reasons I try to avoid running the apps of "random" companies.
  - remram 5y ago
    Revoking permission in my browser's control after each use might be an option. I wonder if I could make a script to change the browser settings (or an extension?)
    - Daneel_ 5y ago
      I installed a virtual camera driver (eg, Canon's EOS camera driver) and set that camera as the default. If any program starts up the camera unexpectedly, they get a giant "NO EOS DEVICE CONNECTED" instead of me partially clothed with my no-coffee-yet face on.
    - pineapple128 5y ago
      This is automatic in Firefox. When giving e.g. microphone permission, you can leave the 'Remember this desxision' option unchecked. This will make the permission 'Allowed temporarily' and will be reset when you close the tab or window. As far as I can test, Chrome does not have this option.
MrStonedOne 5y ago
Somebody didn't read the article.

Exactly. If someone can see through my webcam, I have more to worry about than them seeing my room. I get the appeal of webcam covers; they’re a quick and simple alleviation to the idea of a “peeping Tom”, but if someone can see through your camera when you don’t want them to, they probably already have control of other things on the computer. They could install a keylogger and siphon my documents/photos for more blackmail material. Maybe I’m just dense because it never happened to me (AFAIK), but am I wrong?

batch12 5y ago
Why not defend against both scenarios?
- colejohnson66 5y ago
  I’m not saying we shouldn’t. I actually think manufacturers should go a step further and add physical kill switches to webcams. That would allow cutting off the audio as well. I’m just saying that a sticker seems to be a bandaid on a possibly bigger issue.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    There are very few physical switches and ports on most modern laptops. How many people out of the 99 who don't care are willing to pay for the physical (and not just "physical" as in triggers software) killing of audio and video for the one (if that) who cares? I know I'm not.
    - jimhefferon 5y ago
      I am, for one.
XorNot 5y ago
"Someone" getting control of my webcam bothers me a lot less then "my workplace's invasive monitoring software (which can be deployed at any time in the future if its not there now) is collecting images of my home workplace. My webcam on my own computers, no real fear. When that same device is USB connected to a work supplied computer? Zero trust.

remram 5y ago

I use a webcam cover, but I'm not worried about people hacking into my laptop. What I'm defending against is one of the many apps I have to use for conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet, Bluejeans, Teams) starting up with the camera on when I'm not expecting it (and e.g. not wearing a shirt, my wife getting ready in the background, etc) for example because it was on last time I used that particular app.

ghaff 5y ago
That is probably the main concern for most people. I conference from my office and I simply don't go in there if I'm not presentable at some level. But if you're conferencing from your bedroom, especially with another person, it would be super-easy to mess up with an early morning video call.
kevincox 5y ago
For browser-based conferencing you can simply require them to ask for camera access every time. But that won't help you for tools with their own apps. One of the many reasons I try to avoid running the apps of "random" companies.
- remram 5y ago
  Revoking permission in my browser's control after each use might be an option. I wonder if I could make a script to change the browser settings (or an extension?)
  - Daneel_ 5y ago
    I installed a virtual camera driver (eg, Canon's EOS camera driver) and set that camera as the default. If any program starts up the camera unexpectedly, they get a giant "NO EOS DEVICE CONNECTED" instead of me partially clothed with my no-coffee-yet face on.
  - pineapple128 5y ago
    This is automatic in Firefox. When giving e.g. microphone permission, you can leave the 'Remember this desxision' option unchecked. This will make the permission 'Allowed temporarily' and will be reset when you close the tab or window. As far as I can test, Chrome does not have this option.

MrStonedOne 5y ago

Somebody didn't read the article.