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Most notebook computers have video cameras built into the display's frame, at the top. These cameras typically have a light that powers on when the camera is i
by MichaelCrawford 12y ago
Most notebook computers have video cameras built into the display's frame, at the top. These cameras typically have a light that powers on when the camera is in use.
However there is nothing at all to indicate that the computer has its audio microphone in use.
- click170 12y agoA quick google search shows that some cameras can be activated without that little LED coming online.
- MichaelCrawford 12y agoI was once paid specifically to figure out a way to activate a camera without turning on the light. However in that case it was for a legitimate purpose.
- spacefight 12y agoOut of curiosity - what was that legitimation? Can you tell?
- fluidcruft 12y agoOne idea: I can easily imagine research studies getting IRB approval for this. The red light could alter the subject's behavior, and video analysis could be part of the metrics (for measuring attention/distraction or gross estimates of gaze, etc).
- everyTime 12y agoReally? Because I can't. I can't imagine an IRB-approved research study that requires a software solution (developed under an NDA) to a hardware problem that couldn't be solved with a one-inch square of black electrical tape. For the price of a contracted software developer, you could simply buy a model of laptop (or smart phone), in which the bezel can be pried open without substantial damage, and behind the LED's transparent aperture (but obscuring the LED), you fix a tidbit of black tape or whichever opaque material you may prefer. Or, better yet, for pretty much every situation that doesn't involve eye-movement tracking, simply install a hidden security camera at an opportunistic vantage point.
- fluidcruft 12y agoAn IRB would only care about whether the deception perpetrated on the subject is justifiable. They wouldn't care one iota how the light was disabled--the risk to the subject is the same regardless of whether the light is disabled by hardware or software or not used. For example a BYOD type study might be plausible because in some circumstances subjects may be more comfortable/candid using their own devices. Who knows. The issues for the IRB would only be the fact that the subjects are not consented to covert surveillance and whether the nature of the information collected presents a risk to the subject if accidentally disclosed.
- MichaelCrawford 12y agoI wish I could. It's not just that I am still bound by my NDA, but telling anyone what the application actually did, would result in bad things happening to completely innocent people.
- MichaelCrawford 12y agoI also have a legitimate reason to snap still photos on a smartphone, without making the shutter sound. On an iPhone, it sounds just like an SLR film camera, and is very loud. However, it turns out that it is unlawful to do that in such countries as Japan. Asking how to silence the iphone camera on stackoverflow resulted in 20,000 views of my post, several people saying you can't do that, and several people telling me it's against the law, that it would be a bad idea and so on. Nevertheless, I have a completely legitimate reason to do so. I expect Apple would reject it from the App Store. I may do it for Android, as well as for jailbroken iOS devices, but then sell it through the Cydia App Store.
- jacobsimon 12y agoLol silent mode?
- yzzxy 12y agoNot in Japan.
- pbhjpbhj 12y agoI have an Android phone that's not rooted, an Acer. Turning off shutter sound is in the camera settings, it's one of the first things I do with a camera as I prefer natural photos of family to posed ones.
- nradov 12y agoYou can disable the shutter sound in Android by just putting the phone in silent mode.
- 12y ago
- lbotos 12y agoThe point of the GP was to say that while cameras on computers at least pretend to let you know when they are on, microphones do no such thing.
- iak8god 12y ago> These cameras typically have a light that powers on when the camera is in use. Yes, typically, but sometimes not when used by parties who want to obscure their use of the camera [1]. [1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/18/research-shows-how-macbook-webcams-can-spy-on-their-users-without-warning/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/18...
- bennettfeely 12y agoHas Apple done anything to fix this yet?
- rasz_pl 12y agoThat was Badusb before Badusb. iSight is USB, and its firmware was (and probably still is) not authenticating in any way before firmware update.
- 0942v8653 12y agoI'm pretty sure that (on my MacBook Air, anyway) you only need to get a kext installed for the camera to not light up.
- MichaelCrawford 12y agoI know some ways around that.
- fru2013 12y agoPlease share.
- MichaelCrawford 12y agoI could tell you but then I'd have to kill you. Well OK... More or less like writing any kind of virus. Apple likes to claim that OS X is more secure. In reality, most of those who write malware own Windows boxen.
- arm 12y agoI don’t think you fully understood what 0942v8653 said; why would you write malware to perform the default behaviour (the LED turning on when the camera is on)?
- lawnchair_larry 12y agoThey don't work on macbooks.
- revelation 12y agoYou make it sound as if that is some kind of security revelation. In reality, what you are saying is 'the light is controlled in software'. Which is just another way of saying "that light is just a light, and it has only a tenuous connection to the camera being enabled". Which is of course an utter joke.
- 12y ago