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In Apple's computers the web cam light cannot be disabled, because the web cam is controlled by a co-processor as demoed here. In the newer Pros with Touchbar Apple uses their own chip for this same function.

On a lot of PC webcams, you can run the camera without the light or visa versa[0].

[0] https://blog.erratasec.com/2013/12/how-to-disable-webcam-lig...

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Previous hacks of the iSight cam involved rewriting the firmware of that separate microcontroller. IIRC there was also a delay at one point, so that it was possible to take a picture really fast before the LED turned on.

Of course, the T-series processors were not a thing back then…

Concerned only pre-2009 models or earlier, needed physical access as well. AFAICR.

Correct, since 2009 roughly, the sensor power was tied into the LED, so if the sensor had enough power to register an image, the LED would have to be on. Apple modified the circuitry specifically because of the old exploit.

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