Apple says don't use a webcam cover and we agree: Here's why 

Exactly my thoughts

Why would anyone want to see me? The average person don't really need to worry about it. I would be more worried about someone using the resources on my system, making it slower, or gathering important imformation that is already store in the computer, and that can't be solved with a simple tape over the camera, I would have to disconect completely from the grid to be 100% safe.

@@WolfiiDog13 doesn't hurt to cover your camera though lol

@@WolfiiDog13 Exactly because the average person has this dumb way of thinking. "I'm not relevant, why would they spy on me?" Well, you're right, nobody care´s about you. Nobody, but the algorithms that make money out of predicting your normie behavior. Duh.

Freal lol 😂 if they wasn’t spying they would just stay quite and laugh

This!

Seriously, I have to work from home in the same room as my closet. I don’t want any accidents. I keep my cover closed anytime I am not actively using the camera. Thankfully I have an older MacBook.

I agreed

Yess

meow

Thanks for the laugh lmao, this comment shows how webcams can be hacked without noticing.

Mac webcams are hardwired to the LED next to them so it’s impossible to “hack” it without being noticed by the user

@@sh1121 we all know that, but your average Joe probably won’t. For the vast majority of people, it’s just a light that occasionally turns on and off, and a lot of them won’t even worry about a background process streaming their camera feed without them noticing, cuz they don’t even know it is possible.

@@roydavid5761 If they’re that ignorant of the LED and the software telling them the webcam is on, it’s probably their fault they’re being “hacked”.

Yeah, I don't really how slim the chances are, it's going to happen to some people. I just wish there was a way to physically disconnect the microphone too. Not just a soft switch, a physical disconnect switch.

And it might be a "difficult" or "complicated" hack now, but once someone gets the hang of it, they'll do it to millions of people and aggregate the data. And let's not pretend there's nothing sensitive for people to see. There are all sorts of things. The first thing that comes to mind is a credit card. When you buy something online, you enter your card number. Then you flip the card over and enter the digits on the back. If you hold your card up while you do it, a hacker would get an eyeful of the whole thing.

And cellphones?

@@---cr8nw that data is easier to get directly from the site you're typing it into. If the lighting is bad or the angle is off you can't see it. No one cares really about you unless they have a real reason to. Does anyone have a real reason to spy on you? Do you have trade secrets or other hard to get information? Camera hacking is harder and less reliable than other kinds of hacking, like stealing thousands of people's passwords, credentials and information in one go.

@@seafood459, for now, that's true. But as data encryption for e-retail increases and ease-of-use for video conferencing increases, that might change. Once someone figures out how to do it on one computer, they've got it covered for every computer with that hardware and software. To me, the easy solution is to just put a physical slider switch on computers for both the microphone and the camera. A microphone with no power can't do anything. A camera with no power can't do anything. They use soft switches for two reasons: it's slightly cheaper to have one fewer moving part and it allows them to use audio for eavesdropping. This is very prevalent in cell phones. Everyone from Google to Apple to Facebook want you to talk openly around your phone so they can digitally collate data and create targeted advertising. Big companies WANT to use your own technology to eavesdrop on you to get money from you. Do you really think they're protecting you from other people who want to eavesdrop on you to get money from you?

yes

Mood. I just use random pieces of paper on my desk when I can’t close my laptop screen (had an issue once where I couldn’t close it for a year because my protector was damaged and I couldn’t fix it. I got it fixed now but there are times I am lazy and just put the paper just in case. Especially since I had viruses in the past).

🤣🤣🤣 Me too. Post it notes don’t crack your screen.

So fancy with sticky notes, meanwhile I’m using a piece of masking tape

@@largeroomnolight you also use post-its? (I also use one)

Dirty tricks mI6

C-net more like cia-net

NSA

@@RelaxingSounds-fr1yn Good attempt at obscurity, department of homeland security.

No it would be the NSA. The CIA can't operate on US soil or it's territories...

lol, apple is not spying on you. they might collect data through web searches and such but not from looking at you through a ridiculous screen.

Pin this comment ^

Apple spying? Are you kidding 😂

@@cameronwells3958 People literally put their private lives on social media and share every detail of their lives online and they still worry that someone will spy on them. Unbelievable.

@@hayuko6275 it’s joke lol

bingo

exactly. one has to be exceedingly stupid to listen to anything by a $3 trillion dollar company that underpays workers, evades taxes and denies everyone's right to repair

I too feel sorry for anyone who’s watching me and has to look up my nose through my phone’s camera half the day!🤣

My XPS has the camera on the bottom bazel 🤣

if anyone wants to do research on these softwares thhat sell for 100s that spys on u google hackforums/rat

I think u haven't watch black mirror: Shut Up and Dance episode

Love& Truth lol

Lol I can see that actually happening

499=$0.499? That would be great! Don't forget your units 😉

Dude. Even Apple wouldn't be that greedy. iCover will sell for a max of $399. Sheesh... Oh... But then there will be the iCover Product(RED) version next year... Which probably *will* be $499... Hmmm... Ok, sorry...

✨✨made of carbon fiber✨✨

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Exactly

Or just not have one at all because you’re too scared to have someone see your face?

if anyone wants to do research on these softwares thhat sell for 100s that spys on u invisibly and cannot be removed.,google hackforums-rat (remote admin tools)

When I got my first laptop from my old company, to work from home, I just used a piece of black electric tape. Works perfectly and you can barely see that it’s there. I haven’t covered my new MacBook Air camera though. Hack me if you want. You’re gonna see a whole lot of something you don’t want to see 😂😂😂

please include your password on the note for us. K thanks.

Piece of black electrical tape always worked for me...don't even notice it's there.

I just modifies my camera, and this probably goes to every web came on the market or built in camera. The camera and light indicator is powered separately from the camera module. That was bad design. So I just modifies it to use the light indicator getting power from the camera.

Either way, I’m being attacked 🤣

And a lie.

Hahah perfect.

He's a hacker!

Zuckerberg already has our data anyway

how to do that?

try to find the microphone hole next to the camera, then put something that blocks sound on it

The gain can be turned up loud something over the mic hole may not even work

You can't cover it to block the sound. And getting a microphone access is much more useful for hackers than seeing you on a webcam.

Covering a mic is completely pointless, it'll still pick up plenty of speech through the chassis even if you manage to seal the hole completely, it won't sound nice but be easy enough to recover to intelligibility. And simple thin materials that you can think of like tape/stickers offer hilariously little attenuation and might even serve as windscreens, you might as well be helping the hypothetical attacker. A more promising course of action to thwart audio recording is to create noise which may even be inaudible to you but will saturate the mic preamp. But then that's not easy.

G14

Hahahahaha 😂😂😂

Or if your laptop screen's bezel already has an in-built camera cover

Mine is from 2012 and it has a camera but for some reason it's like I smeared something on the lens and it's not even able to see anything

Laptops? Hah. *PC Gang*

You must be a high risk target that a hacker or goverment wants. Do you work in psyops or a nuke missile programmer

@@nullvid lol nah. Just don't want my IT department to see me picking my nose. They confirmed they saw it at one point. Never lived it down after that. 🤣

@@nullvid that seems to lack any foresight in future capabilities. There was once upon a time that apple devices were incapable of viruses unless by targeted action. There was once a time entire retail chain card readers wouldn't give up your credit card data.

@@nullvid yeah i am

@@nullvid you can be a genius and being spied on 24/7 will make sure your ideas end up in the hands of a dumb billionare

Lolzzz

Its Ackerman not Hackerman. Like Nick Ackerman for example

@@PastelMarshmallows (its a joke man...)

@@SpagheddiO oop lol sorry I take things to literally

@@PastelMarshmallows haha dw about it man :)

why would apple spy on us?

Lol totally

You then probably also want to poke a lithium battery with a hot knife, because they also tell you not to do that...

I just covered 5 webcoms in 5 minutes!

They can see my crusty face at 3 am if they want. Don’t see how it’d do them any good though

Most vpn sponsors are scams to begin with ...

This comment was brought to you by ....... Nord VPN 😉

Nord VPN is a VPN...

It's sponsored by government instead

@@teojz instead of VPN, try new NSA!

warren gaskin I’m not important and when I’m on my computer, it’s just going to be me looking at the screen, that’s not useful to anyone.

I understand where you're coming from but I think tech companies are actually very interested in everyone. Facebook has developed patents on eye movement, pupil dialation, and facial expression of its users. This technology would allow these companies to know what you look at, how long, and how whether you like/dislike agree/disagree what you're seeing. It's kind of eerie

Kind of trouble lolll its only a press of a button now bud its call gui interface just like using windows lollll you all are sleep just like when covid came and people thought it couldnt affect them ohhhh a change of mind n3iw loll

You're not big enough now. But who knows in a year or so. Also given than these days you can't know what will suddenly become offensive, I'd say it's not completely mindless.

Honestly that’s the mood and peace of mind I need Thanks 😅

in most laptops it’s on the separate board

My laptop doesn't have that feature, but I'm not sure if I should remove my privacy cover

he's a hero. idc what anybody said

And West a tin foil hat

Right

But the MacBooks light at least always lights up when the camera is active - and it can’t be disabled as it is a physical feature If I am not wrong

@@Casskario False. It can be activated without turning on the light.

Exactly. Sick of people pretending everyday people don't get hacked.

That's interesting. Our school had the cameras completely uninstalled before distribution.

@@Rigiroony that's actually a pretty smart idea

@@focusedfuture7612 yeah they took the whole thing out and replaced it with a plastic bit.

That's what pissed me off about my old school iPad. I had that thing in my house and they could view it or listen in on it any time they wanted with apple's tools.

@@Brian-jv8iy If a hacker were to hack into a PC with a remote administration tool or other piece of software that can access your camera they could easily just enable the webcam again

Lenovo legion laptop has the e shutter where you can manually disable the camera using the switch on the side of the laptop

I really hope you cover both the front and back cameras on your phone too lol.

Please cover your phone camera also

You have the cameras on your phone covered too?

What is PH?

SubOxyde Adult tickle time video site.

If you search the text from the email its basically a pretyped thing they use on everyone obviously fake

So I wasn't the only one that got the email...

But the aesthetic!!!!!

@@kjcorder I imagine the designers at Apple could figure out a sleek looking cover. If the product prices are any indication, they certainly get paid enough

Apple solved this years ago by actually hardwiring that LED to the webcam. One can’t be on without the other.

@@joelmulder I'd rather have the camera blocked whether or not a hacker has turned my webcam on than simply knowing that it's on. LED may tell you the camera is on but that doesn't keep them from seeing through it.

Apple doesn’t trust its userbase to be able to use a right mouse button, have manual camera features, or install MicroSD cards. I think they’ll see a cover as too complex.

Facts!

what a stupid comment

@@welphereiam The comment that YOU wrote yes... yes it's stupid.

Well, if you want to break your screen, then sure cover your camera.

You can still cover it but the paper shouldn’t be thicker than 0.1mm and leaves adhesive residue as the video has shown.

You'd have a good payday if you could prove you're being spied on by your employer. Even if they only have audio, that's still wiretapping

Not a problem if you're running Linux on it that IT directly told you that you're in charge of because they don't support anything but Windows and MacOS. The only stuff on my work laptop is stuff I've put on there myself.

@@Kyle17206 not really there’s software that schools use that can block websites, monitor your screen keep logs etc im sure there’s a tone for employers too

@@Kaiyats google Robbins v. Lower Merion School District. Unknowing video/audio recoding is taken very seriously, especially from employers and schools

Ownership of a device does not automatically equal autonomy over its functions. Yes, a lot of company provided IT does have software logging activity (especially when that‘s used to log working hours as well) but privacy will win in almost any case. Even if IT wants to remotely access a computer they will need authorisation from the user on the machine for them to access the machine. Turning on a microphone or webcam without an employee‘s knowledge is absolutely unlawful (except for a few cases where there is suspicions in a criminal case and law enforcement has has obtained proper authorisation to wiretap). If a company was to do secretly spy on their employees to check whether they are at their workstation via webcam they would still lose b/c the breach of privacy is way out of proportion for their goal.

If that’s so, then just disable your webcam.

@@user-xj7ze3bv3c well sometime we forgot so better be prepared

Why u naked during a zoom meeting tho 💀

ikr?

Why?

that's $50 extra

@Acai Lover Films this is a crazy bad take in 2020 when so many people work remotely and depend on video conferencing

That'll be an extra 250$ on each model

Lmao same my web cams in my room even when it’s says off on zoom I’m still worried it might be on!

wow. How long ago was this? I think it was a go to meeting had a way for a boss to monitor their employees working from home until it was supposedly removed last year because for some reason it was creepy. There's a ton of live streamers accidentally being live without knowing it on RU-vid and the like, it's easy enough to find a video replay of just how crazy that is.

Absolutely!! Our work and home lives have blended so much this year, and we are juggling all kinds of situations that may inadvertently end up on a Zoom call that I'd rather not have to deal with. Covering that camera with a post it makes me feel much more in control.

I find it’s not difficult to just... you know, not undress in front of your webcam. If it’s a laptop, shut it or turn it around. If it’s a desktop, be aware of where it’s pointing. As a side note, if you have a phone with Google Assistant or Alexa, or a smart speaker with either, you’re also putting your privacy at risk. It’s different, but the same thing.

@Timothy McSwain I doubt she intentionally undressed in front of it. She probably undressed within view of it. There are many times I pause a RU-vid video and change into my pyjamas while the laptop is still open. It’s probably an ingrained habit because we’ve all been at home so long. But either way, it is better to be aware of your surroundings.

Snowden on the other hand, I trust.

Dan ackerman? Dan ackerman.... dan hackerman! Now i know why he is telling us to not use camera covers

Many cybersecurity expert have not went to any institute

Dan Ackerman?He only knows about titan shifter,not hacking.If u dont believe me,just ask his brother,Levi.

Honestly same...

Same

@DPM I did that for a while, it worked when I didn't have online school and online exams, but now that I need to put it on and take it off all the time I keep losing the tape and the glue on the tape is getting the camera dirty and I have to clean it all the time and sometimes it's hard to clean, that's why I'd rather use that cover

@@ikramrafi6481 fold a sticky note or piece of paper and just lay in on top of you computer like a tent, you don't have to take it off, you can just slide it

@@dq8431 some people are just not clever enough to think like you

Dutchies never wear helmets while riding their bikes though

@@sannebrooks6999 That may be the case, I'm unfamiliar with the Netherlands tbh but the point still stands. 😉 Cheers !

Truth.

Not an apples to apples comparison.

But it's not? A fall on a bike is far more likely

First rule at Apple: people are dumb, stop listening to what they want and tell them what and how to think

@@meghanachauhan9380 second rule at Apple: sell overpriced garbage and spy on their users.

@@meghanachauhan9380 Image an MacBook with an inbuild camera cover. That would be the uglyest thing in the world.

@@tomgragor1130 imagine someone watching through your camera while your wife changes clothes 🤷

I have had a Lenovo Yoga with the camera cover, and it looks really nice. The way they made it, you can hardly even see it unless you were looking for it. 👍 I don't see apple doing it though, lol. I think it would be a great idea if all cameras in our tech had built in camera covers. :-)

Okay, but... they're not talking about tape. They're talking about specially-designed covers, which are thicker than tape, and have been known to damage *MacBook screens specifically.*

It's a pretty simple circuit, camera cannot be powered own without inherently powering on the light.

@@SenKyrstenSinema yeah, this was the big joke to me. That's why apple says it doesn't matter. Also this supposed expert that says it's within the realm of possibility is dumb for not realizing this or looking into it.

Its not the tape they are talking about, its the stick on device that slides back and forth, when you close the lid it bends the screen because of how thick it is

Saying sheep has immediately removed credibility from you

At the end of the video they recommend using tape or stickers, just not the thick sliders

@@archygrey9093 Something tells me they know we won't make it that far in the video 😆 😂

GO AWAYYYYY 😂😂

You again?!

He bought the plots around his home for that

Before this blows up I guess?

Oh boyyyy

The bloody thing turned itself on for the 1st time during exams. Luckily I have always covered the camera because I am extra.

the "i see u" bug could even enable the camera without that green light on, just so you know

I wonder why windows/mac webcam is not safe than phone front camera?

Maybe just try to notice the bright green light next to your webcam 🤷‍♂️

@@costacoffee4life665 the camera can run without the light being on. The firmware controls both independently

Nope idea lol

Nope coz then the magnets won’t work and the laptop won’t actually turn off

@@helmi5045 Not sure which brand you got but mine works fine- the laptop light goes out so it's definitely off.

@@isabear5365 oh i thought you were referring to MacBooks (like the video). The MacBook has a magnet on the screen and on the body where the keyboard is. it turns of when these magnets aline thats also why you can turn a MacBook of by putting a magnet on that certain spot

What does this mean exactly? Thank you!

@@BbGun-lw5vi that mentality is everywhere, too easy for a company to say "don't worry about it" and hide it than to do the right thing. Yea, chances are super low that someone is going to hack your specific webcam, just like your chances of winning the lottery are low...but it happens right? Ill keep my webcam cover on, and I'll keep buying powerball tickets.

Not really, laptops are designed to have almost zero gap in between. Putting something in between can put pressure on the screen. I wouldn’t take my chances with a expensive laptop.

@@vincentludwig9584 🙄

@Jack that makes no sense.

Me too, been using this style for about 3 years and no problems

@Jack not if you look closely and don’t cover the light sensir

😊👍

Same just a mess now with online calls

That's what I did too. I put a piece of paper towel directly over the camera so it didn't get sticky. I literally never use my camera though so it's not a hassle for me

YUP literally proved this on my own macbook

Even if the light was 100% reliable, it is still only useful while you're looking at the screen, not if the camera turns on when you're not sitting at your desk, etc.

The built-in camera cover may cover it with software and we may not notice! :)

The light is 100% reliable on MacBooks. The camera can't work without the light being on.

Thats what's cool about the framework Laptop, physical camera and microphone disconnect switches.

It only takes one link for millions of people to click on and their in.

@@russellmania5349 no

@@OfficialGOD ...yes. very basic protocol, not much security with video streaming protocols

@@russellmania5349 ah yes. totally. becuase no modern browsers these days have permission control.. /s

yeah wouldn’t be hard. a little file downloaded and here we go

that's the way it should be. Electrical tape not fancy stuff

Electrical tape with a piece of aluminum since I found out most new ones have inferred too

@@martykunte Or just aluminum tape

I had a sticky note on mine

@@sommerprettygirlgamer2719 same lol

Use a simple electrical tape tape fits on the camera, but you shouldn't remove the tape, it could leak your faces

Same.. I just accidentally did it today. And now I’m covering my webcam

just disable it in settings. That’s supposed to be an option

@@oldacc_ihatebrickplanet12 then you will reenable it and one day you will forget to disable also projects as prism shows us mass surveillance is a areal thing we already saw reports of NSA agents hacking into people and checking their private parts photos yes they got caught and fired but still many get slipped through cracks

@@oldacc_ihatebrickplanet12 i don't trust computers 😭

Was it a tech-support scammer or was it actually tech-support? I mean it was probably a remote access system and once they have access to your system they can do whatever they want including opening up your WebCam application.

@@imark7777777 it was actual support guy from HP. Now a day once you call in for tech support they required you install a software so they can diagnose problem. But that software unlock your whole computer under their control. I'm sure the guy could just click my Pic file and see all the porns in there

Yeah, I was trying to fix a concern with HP and they sent me a link like that. I didn’t even have my HP laptop yet. I found that to be odd so I just deleted the email and never went back with the concern, Hahaa.

Try it with any other laptop with an all-glass panel that fits snugly over the keyboard portion when shut, with a good hinge, and you’ll get the same result. It’s common sense. When you close the lid with that protruding cover on, it creates a high-pressure point on the glass and it cracks or breaks. It’s not rocket science.

Well if you slam it so hard a piece of plastic breaks it ,it will brake without the piece and for the high pressure comment , around 1,5 kg of pressure (yes mesasured it)will never brake a screen unless the latest crap.

@@Proteus846 i try it with my xiaomi mi notebook, full glass screen, no damage for over a year Because there is a rubber spacing around the screen

the MacBook Pro doesn't need a piece of paper, it damages its self with the keyboard JAJAJA

I have yet to see a valid reason or advantage to owning a Mac tbh

😆

Same

I have a pink one! Love it very cute😆

Same, I didn't know there was a purpose-built camera cover. Now I can finally replace the little bit of Post-It Note that I've been using the last few years.

My first thought!

apple has literally no reason to spy on you

@@raidev_ but they do it anyway so I don't care

@@raidev_ if they have no reason why do they refuse to implement features like their own built in covers or flippable cameras 🤷‍♂️

@@lyanreehan What would they gain from that? Lawsuits?

@@raidev_ I don't know all I'm saying is they don't care and are spying otherwise they wouldn't be hesitant to add these requested things

Apple says its fine to cover the camera with a sticker or post it note just not with those sliding things.

@@archygrey9093 So... actual short answer, these guys are either really bad at interpreting English or disingenuous.

@@btat16 like all news a bit disingenuous. The reality is that part of doing the news is trying to get clicks/views/readings by being sensationalist.

@@jonathandpg6115 I’d expect that kinda disingenuousness from a mainstream outlet, but for a network targeted at computer users, this is really poor journalism.

Apple and Privacy is like Metal detector detecting Plastic.