4 ms·

That doesn't protect your microphone from being exposed though.

by tmsbrg 5y ago

newbamboo 5y ago
Don’t talk to your computer. When you do talk, talk about stuff that you want them to look into.
beeboop 5y ago
this is why we need hardware switches for microphones
- michael-ax 5y ago
  fwiw, there's a switch in every ext. mic. jack. plug in an un-wired connector, cut of the wiring post, smooth with a nail-file or put on a crowning drop of glue so it won't rip your bag and you're done.
  - myself248 5y ago
    Often these are software, though. Yes there's a switch, but it just tells the audio subsystem to automatically select the plugged-in mic. You can still tell it to select the screen-frame mic instead.
  - deadbunny 5y ago
    A software switch. You can test by pluggin in your unwired plug then go set to any program and select the internal mic and it'll work fine.
- fsflover 5y ago
  https://puri.sm/products/librem-14 https://puri.sm/products/librem-14 - this device has the kill switch.
- dheera 5y ago
  I just got a Framework laptop (https://frame.work https://frame.work) and it has this. Take that, Apple fanboys.
kadoban 5y ago
An icepick/paperclip does.
- russh 5y ago
  Yes, but travel is expensive and time consuming. Not to mention the effort it would take to track down the responsible party.
- criddell 5y ago
  You should also destroy any speakers. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1611/1611.07350.pdf https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1611/1611.07350.pdf
  - kadoban 5y ago
    Oof, that's unfortunate. Thanks for the tip.
    - hutzlibu 5y ago
      But that hack requires deep OS access and is not trivial, but for those with a nation state agency behind them, good to keep in mind
5e92cb50239222b 5y ago
Disable it in system settings, browser settings, and prevent access through something like firejail. It is not as reliable as a hardware kill-off switch, but puts a lot of barriers to overcome.
reaperducer 5y ago
That doesn't protect your microphone from being exposed though. And ripping out your microphone doesn't stop evildoers from viewing the camera. What's your point?
aasasd 5y ago
Well tape the microphone too. With thick soft tape.
- bogwog 5y ago
  Or open up your laptop and (carefully) destroy it. I can’t remember the last time I used the built-in mic on a laptop, much less the last time I bought a laptop with a mic that was actually worth using.
  - denton-scratch 5y ago
    > Or open up your laptop and (carefully) destroy it. OK, I destroyed it (carefully). Now it won't boot. What do I do next?
    - bogwog 5y ago
      Get a refund from the guy who sold you that janky ass laptop that won’t boot without a microphone.
      - denton-scratch 5y ago
        OIC. Well, I destroyed the laptop, not the microphone, because that's what OP said to do. I guess I didn't read the directions carefully enough. /s

That doesn't protect your microphone from being exposed though.

by tmsbrg 5y ago

That doesn't protect your microphone from being exposed though.

newbamboo 5y ago

Don’t talk to your computer. When you do talk, talk about stuff that you want them to look into.

beeboop 5y ago

this is why we need hardware switches for microphones

michael-ax 5y ago
fwiw, there's a switch in every ext. mic. jack. plug in an un-wired connector, cut of the wiring post, smooth with a nail-file or put on a crowning drop of glue so it won't rip your bag and you're done.
- myself248 5y ago
  Often these are software, though. Yes there's a switch, but it just tells the audio subsystem to automatically select the plugged-in mic. You can still tell it to select the screen-frame mic instead.
- deadbunny 5y ago
  A software switch. You can test by pluggin in your unwired plug then go set to any program and select the internal mic and it'll work fine.
fsflover 5y ago
https://puri.sm/products/librem-14 https://puri.sm/products/librem-14 - this device has the kill switch.
dheera 5y ago
I just got a Framework laptop (https://frame.work https://frame.work) and it has this. Take that, Apple fanboys.

kadoban 5y ago

An icepick/paperclip does.

russh 5y ago
Yes, but travel is expensive and time consuming. Not to mention the effort it would take to track down the responsible party.
criddell 5y ago
You should also destroy any speakers. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1611/1611.07350.pdf https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1611/1611.07350.pdf
- kadoban 5y ago
  Oof, that's unfortunate. Thanks for the tip.
  - hutzlibu 5y ago
    But that hack requires deep OS access and is not trivial, but for those with a nation state agency behind them, good to keep in mind

5e92cb50239222b 5y ago

Disable it in system settings, browser settings, and prevent access through something like firejail. It is not as reliable as a hardware kill-off switch, but puts a lot of barriers to overcome.

reaperducer 5y ago

That doesn't protect your microphone from being exposed though. And ripping out your microphone doesn't stop evildoers from viewing the camera. What's your point?

aasasd 5y ago

Well tape the microphone too. With thick soft tape.

bogwog 5y ago
Or open up your laptop and (carefully) destroy it. I can’t remember the last time I used the built-in mic on a laptop, much less the last time I bought a laptop with a mic that was actually worth using.
- denton-scratch 5y ago
  > Or open up your laptop and (carefully) destroy it. OK, I destroyed it (carefully). Now it won't boot. What do I do next?
  - bogwog 5y ago
    Get a refund from the guy who sold you that janky ass laptop that won’t boot without a microphone.
    - denton-scratch 5y ago
      OIC. Well, I destroyed the laptop, not the microphone, because that's what OP said to do. I guess I didn't read the directions carefully enough. /s