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Macbooks already have this: it's called the keyboard and it "slides over the lens" when you close the laptop when it's not in use. Much easier to do automatically than remember to slide a 'door' across. Or do people really leave their laptops open when not in use?

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That doesn't prevent spying when you are using your computer, which could be really embarrassing if you are for instance looking at porn. Also, sometimes you want to leave it one when you aren't using it, like when you're downloading something.

No; I don't think any of the suggestions here can solve the 'someone might be spying on me whilst I'm already using my camera' problem - that's a very difficult one to cater for.

On the whole, I think this discussion focuses on the wrong 'problem'. If someone can gain access to your computer, taking control of the camera is just one of a whole host of nasty activities they could get up to - the real problem is securing against remote access in the first place.

But then you can't see the keys or the monitor.

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