blinding webcam

[Linea Recta]

Re: blinding webcam - and more

"BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> schreef in bericht
news:htpec8$to$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> On 5/28/2010 74 AM, Linea Recta wrote:
>> "BillW50" <BillW50@aol.kom> schreef in bericht
>> news:htlkpp$j5q$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>> In news:4bfd68cc$0$22934$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl,
>>> Linea Recta typed on Wed, 26 May 2010 2003 +0200:
>>>> "Linea Recta" <mccm.vos@abc.invalid> schreef in bericht
>>>> news:4bf6d115$0$22933$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
>>>>> I wonder, is there some clip on the market for blinding the webcam
>>>>> on a laptop? Never seen anything of the sort though and I don't have
>>>>> time to make one myself.
>>>>> On the desktop I have a Logitech webcam which is equipped with a
>>>>> sort of spectacle which moves over the lens when the cam is not in
>>>>> use. This ensures prevention of spying.
>>>>
>>>> Come to think of it: how about the mic? Microphone does not have an
>>>> indicator led, so it can easily be misused by spies...
>>>
>>> Yes indeed. And the next time you are using the flash player in your
>>> browser, right click on it and check your privacy settings. It might
>>> have the mic and the webcam set to allow. If so, Adobe can see and
>>> hear you whenever they want too.
>>
>> These issues could be addressed quite simply if manufacturers provide
>> their hardware with a little (inexpensive) slider switch
>> enabling/disabling the camera/microphone. This way users know for sure
>> he's in control himself.
>
> Well I know what you mean. Although I can see why manufactures don't want
> to use switches. As some types are problematic (not all of them). Plus
> manufactures and software developers like controlling switches
> electronically. As software can't flip a manual switch.
>
> I have been thinking this for days and I had a few thoughts for you. One
> is most BIOS in the setup you can disable the webcam. And as far as I
> know, no software known yet can toggle it back on again. So that should be
> really safe. But it requires a reboot to enable it again and you might not
> like that idea.


In fact the BIOS of my laptop is very spartan with surprising few settings.
Also there is no webcam setting.


>
> The second plan is disabling it through the Device Manager. Almost no
> software can bypass this and you would be really safe here too. Although
> the BIOS option is safer. Not impossible, but damn near. As a hacker would
> have to know your machine personally to hack into the BIOS.
>
> The mic? Well no bios setting in any one I ever seen. And nothing in the
> Device Manager to disable. And software can easily change this one for
> sure and turn it on.
>
> With some luck though, some internal mics are disabled if you plug
> something into the external mic jack. I would test it to see if yours
> does. Even plugging in headphones or ear buds would be okay. But both can
> work as a crummy mic. So test them to make sure they won't pick up too
> well or not at all. Otherwise just a plug without any wires should work
> too.


I think a dummy jack might work (haven't tested yet). When using headphones
or speakers, I think they actually do work as mic!
Then, concerning the desktop PC, I have to consider the additional sound
source of USB webcam, (hard accessible) which has to be pulled out I
suppose.



>
> I don't know? That is the best I can come up with so far.
>
>>> Most cell phones the phone companies have the same ability. Whether
>>> you are on a call or not. So they can listen in anytime they want too.
>>> Law enforcement uses this little trick to listen in on the bad guys.
>>> Supposedly they can listen in even if the phone is off. The only way
>>> around this is to pull the battery out.
>>
>> I've never owned a mobile phone but I guess the same solution as above
>> could be applied.
>
> I used too. But I now live in the middle of nowhere and they don't work
> too well here anyway. As I have to climb a tall tree just to get one bar.
> lol


Perhaps you could construct an extended antenna?
If you're in the jungle you could consider shortwave radio, or perhaps
communication by satellite?



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Aaron]

>>> I wonder, is there some clip on the market for blinding the webcam on
>>> a laptop? Never seen anything of the sort though and I don't have
>>> time to make one myself.
>>> On the desktop I have a Logitech webcam which is equipped with a sort
>>> of spectacle which moves over the lens when the cam is not in use.
>>> This ensures prevention of spying.
>>
>> A piece of aluminum foil bent in a U-shape to cover the lens. No tape
>> residue and very inexpensive.
>
> I think that's a great idea. Foil seems very effective and with no
> disadvantages. Wonder why I didn't figure this out myself!

Because you don't wear an aluminum cap on your head like I do?

Actually, someone mentioned being very paranoid, I thought "Enough to
wear an aluminum cap?" and "Viola"! Or was it trumpets I heard?

--

I'm glad my Mom named me Aaron,
That's what everybody calls me.

 

[Linea Recta]

"Aaron" <kemtek.1@gmail.com> schreef in bericht
news:hts2ft$p6a$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>> I wonder, is there some clip on the market for blinding the webcam on a
>>>> laptop? Never seen anything of the sort though and I don't have time to
>>>> make one myself.
>>>> On the desktop I have a Logitech webcam which is equipped with a sort
>>>> of spectacle which moves over the lens when the cam is not in use. This
>>>> ensures prevention of spying.
>>>
>>> A piece of aluminum foil bent in a U-shape to cover the lens. No tape
>>> residue and very inexpensive.
>>
>> I think that's a great idea. Foil seems very effective and with no
>> disadvantages. Wonder why I didn't figure this out myself!
>
> Because you don't wear an aluminum cap on your head like I do?
>
> Actually, someone mentioned being very paranoid, I thought "Enough to wear
> an aluminum cap?" and "Viola"! Or was it trumpets I heard?


That's also a great idea, since it is much easier to wear an aluminium cap
than taking your head off.



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os