News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on FBI director: Cover up your webcam. Parent comment

Re:FBI director: Cover up your webcam by Houshalter on Thursday September 15, 2016 @08:24AM (#12505474)
>At which point it's already too late - the hacker has had access to your camera for some period of time, until you notice the light.

Yeah for like 10 seconds. Who cares? The problem with webcams is they can spy on you for days and weeks on end, and record your sensitive conversations.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:FBI director: Cover up your webcam by tantalor on Thursday September 15, 2016 @08:41AM (#12505581)
Recording conversations has nothing to do with the camera. You might be thinking of the microphone. Should we put a little LED on that too?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:FBI director: Cover up your webcam by Houshalter on Thursday September 15, 2016 @09:26AM (#12505910)
Yes of course. It should be connected to both. You can't put a piece of tape over a microphone.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:FBI director: Cover up your webcam by tantalor on Thursday September 15, 2016 @11:31AM (#12506988)
But the microphone is always on if you enable voice activation, e.g., "Okay Google", "Hey Siri", "Hey Cortana". That recognition is handled in software, so no "hacker proof" hardware indicator can distinguish between the use cases.

"Hey Siri" works on desktop devices: https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/15/how-to-enable-hands-free-hey-...

"Okay Google" was removed from desktop: http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/16/9553051/ok-google-removed...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:FBI director: Cover up your webcam by Houshalter on Thursday September 15, 2016 @07:49PM (#12510827)
Yes, and I have my own issues with unprompted voice activation for that exact reason.

I think that having the mic light always on when you enable voice activation, would go a long way to showing consumers the risks of it. It makes it visually obvious that you are being recorded.

[ Parent | on HN ]