1. I don't want to broadcast myself during a meeting when I'm not prepared, or perhaps leave a meeting open by accident.
2. If a bad actor does access my camera, I won't necessarily notice the indicator light, especially if I'm not actively using the computer at that moment.
3. I don't trust the indicator light to be permanently unhackable.
Apple is good, but they are not perfect
Can recommend. Physical security > *.
I hope you’re a billionaire with secrets because otherwise this is pure paranoia.
You could copy some data over live, but there are also non-exportable cryptographic keys in the Secure Enclave.
Or as other poster mentioned, just swap whole units.
Multiple teardowns have confirmed that it's a hardware path that software cannot modify.
Also, if you're using an external display, then how are you supposed to notice the green light on the MacBook sitting next to the display?
That Apple article is nonsense. I put a black tape over the camera and I know nothing including hacks can broadcast unintended scene. It's easy to remove the tape when I actually have to which isn't too often for me.
The sliding covers are fine but it’s just more effort to order one.
Not to mention apps that do it "right" like Hangouts that enable the camera for you to preview your video feed before you're actually live. Could be pretty confusing/concerning for someone who isn't used to an app (and when it broadcasts you or not) and sees the light come on. A cover takes that whole thought worry-pitfall out of the possibilities.
I believe it’s only possible with the FaceTime app, which turns the camera on when opening the app.
They have a small slider with the camera protection "glass" build in which can cover the camera and will "show" a red dot if it's covered.
1) Block the camera and hope the microphone is on mute 2) Hope the camera isn't on and home the microphone isn't on 3) Not have the mac at all
Clearly 1 is better than 2.
It seems to be something with a switch that disconnects one of the rings of a 4 pin. Easy enough, but $5 doesn’t seem awful.
Of course it doesn’t disconnect built in microphones, and with modern Apple phones getting rid of 3.5mm jacks it’s value is less.
I'm in a lot of remote meetings, and wouldn't want to be accidentality presenting without expecting to.
I still think the best solution would be to have no builtin camera or microphone. Just have something like the iSight that you manually and thus willingly connect to your thunderbolt. Works with your external monitor as well and you can orient it the way you like. It would also have better overall image and sound quality (low light, more shallow depth of field, etc.). And on the plus side for Apple and its shareholders, it's another $499 essential.
I cover my camera to avoid that 5s mental dance at the start of every meeting.
Also, I am really worried about microphones. I have 2 google homes, 6 siris (iPhones and apple watch), a portal, a number of macbook pros and airs, a PS4, ... any of these devices could be listening to me at all time :/
[1]: https://geekologie.com/2020/03/poor-jennifer-woman-takes-lap...
That way I don't have to worry about my annoying my colleagues by my mechanical keyboard, occasional excess gas events or similar.
If my computer is compromised to the point where an attacker can access my camera and microphone, information from my camera and microphone are the least of my problems.
But if I was giving a computer to a 12 year old or 16 year old - what else is the hacker going to take? Their online gaming account?
Sure, someone could grab all my files, email, etc. That would be damaging.
But if I'm having a sensitive conversation in my home/office with someone and the camera and/or microphone come on, that could be damaging as well.
FWIW, I use a camera cover and Oversight[0] to tell me when an application uses the camera or microphone. It doesn't prevent it from happening, but at least I'm aware if something is going on. The weirdest thing I've seen yet is that the iOS Simulator uses the microphone.