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Software disabling is little use when the issue only exists because of a lack of trust in the software (ie NSA co-operation).
by polshaw 13y ago
Software disabling is little use when the issue only exists because of a lack of trust in the software (ie NSA co-operation).
- comex 13y ago> ie NSA co-operation This is so ridiculous it's not worth talking about. The chances of snooping due to the console being hacked are slightly higher, but where are all the people complaining that most laptops, tablets, and phones (which generally have significantly less software security) have built-in software controlled cameras and microphones? Laptops usually have indicator lights for cameras, but not microphones, and the other two have no indicators and follow you wherever you go.
- yusefnapora 13y agoI honestly think it's an emotional reaction due to the similarity to Orwell's telescreen. There's something about your TV watching you back that gives our collective unconscious the willies.
- codeka 13y ago> Laptops usually have indicator lights for cameras But doesn't that just mean you have to trust the light? I mean this does indeed seem rather ridiculous. If you're really that paranoid, a piece of masking tape will solve your problem.
- davorak 13y ago> But doesn't that just mean you have to trust the light? This problem is solved by having the power to the camera hardwired to the light. If the camera is on the light will be on, well until the led burns out but that takes a while. Last I checked and my model of macbook has this but I do not know how common it is over all. I do not think this is common practice for microphones and it seems like it should be.
- sliverstorm 13y agoBut that means you have to trust power was hardwired to the light.
- davorak 13y agoOr you open it up and check at least with the model I have. I do not know about the new models with retina displays I hear they are harder to take apart.
- comex 13y agoIn theory, the hardware should be designed so that it's impossible to use the camera without turning on the light, so it would require the device manufacturer to be malicious in advance, which is even less likely. Of course, there could be bugs, but it shouldn't be hard to design such a feature correctly. (Note that since there are cases of people being spied on by their laptop webcams, as mentioned elsewhere on the thread, but always with the light on, it would be quite a serious issue if someone discovered a way to disable the light.)
- sliverstorm 13y agoBut then you have to trust the masking tape. What if the NSA put a backdoor in masking tape for this very purpose?
- jwr 13y agoActually, people do worry about phones and remote microphone activation (see for example http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/12/remotely_eavesd_1.html http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/12/remotely_eaves...). There are many places where you have to leave your cell phone by the door before entering.
- gosu 13y agoThe same party is already in control of the world's PCs and laptops - things everyone with an XBone will already use for many of their favorite illegal activities. What new danger does this introduce? I also expect that if video/audio are being saved or else transmitted to Microsoft/NSA or else being dynamically analyzed using the latest wank-detection algorithms, then someone will detect this by the resource usage.
- andrewfong 13y agoSo point the camera at a wall and duct tape the microphone. Problem solved.
- untog 13y agoIf the NSA was using our webcams to spy on us, someone would discover it within hours.