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A comment on Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the new normal?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the... by blitzar on Friday December 17, 2021 @08:24AM (#29591740)
> And they will install a trojan

They WILL

> which would eavesdrop your talks

That absolutely WILL - use the microphone and listen to everything being said (why not the camera too and watch everthing?)

> scan your home network and analyze its traffic.

That absolutely WILL - do all this stuff

I mean if this is definately going to happen, then the company can go ahead and cut an 8 figure cheque straight away. Which company and where do I sign up?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the... by qwerty456127 on Friday December 17, 2021 @08:46AM (#29591994)
> why not the camera too and watch everthing

Because who doesn't have a lid/sticker over their webcam yet?

I have also kill-switched the built-in mic in the BIOS set-up but I'm not sure how secure this is. I would prefer there to be no built-in microphones in any hardware (except phones) at all. Sadly every modern laptop is equipped with a mic.

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Re:Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the... by dsr_ on Friday December 17, 2021 @09:08AM (#29592314)
Most mics have mediocre sensitivity. Stick a blob of blu-tack or similar cohesive putty on it, take it off when you want to use the mic. Test by making recordings -- some machines have two or three mics.
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Re:Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the... by cuu508 on Friday December 17, 2021 @09:18AM (#29592459)
That's one plus point for desktops and nettops with no-frills motherboards. No mic, no speakers, no bluetooth, no wifi.
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