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Re:You’re muted – or are you? Videoconferencing apps may lis... by pmoriarty on Wednesday April 13, 2022 @03:50PM (#31019402)
"if you really care about privacy, consider getting a hardware mute microphone"

Even if you get an external microphone which can be muted, if you're on a laptop you'll still have an internal microphone which can't be muted except through software.

What we really need are laptops sold without microphones and cameras. Then you can just use external ones only, and be sure that no one's listening/looking when you unplug them.

Re:You’re muted – or are you? Videoconferencing apps may lis... by chaxor on Thursday April 14, 2022 @01:49AM (#31023785)
Unfortunately, even if a company offered this, in today's world the product would likely have a hidden microphone that isn't listed on the featured hardware.

Much like the old physical typewriters had spyware hidden on them without the users knowledge. I would be willing to bet that every keyboard has something similar today.

It's also striking to see how many people believe that they can trust the 'little indicator lights' on their microphone and cameras to actually indicate that their physically cut off from power. Very, very few devices are made in a way that this is true, and I would be hard pressed to believe it even if it was started in a manual unless I physically checked the equipment.

Ultimately, just assume that the entire world can scrutinize everything that happens on or around any electronic device... so everything, all the time.

Re:You’re muted – or are you? Videoconferencing apps may lis... by PeterStuer on Thursday April 14, 2022 @02:56AM (#31024092)
Technically any speaker can also potentially be used as a microphone.
Re:You’re muted – or are you? Videoconferencing apps may lis... by charcircuit on Wednesday April 13, 2022 @04:45PM (#31020024)
Usually software only captures one mic at a time.