Laptop Webcam Privacy

Cluster focuses on privacy concerns with built-in laptop webcams and recommendations for physical solutions like tape covers, shutters, or disabling hardware to prevent unauthorized spying or access.

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19
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#1715
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2008
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2010
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153
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2016
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Keywords

OSX LED MacBook NUC OS USB camera webcam laptop tape mic microphone cameras disable physically cover

Sample Comments

xeromal Nov 25, 2022 View on HN

Sounds like there almost needs to be an incognito mode for cameras.

enlyth Jul 7, 2021 View on HN

Seems more like a missing feature, you can physically cover your webcam if you're that paranoid.

nomercy400 Aug 23, 2014 View on HN

or disable your camera device/driver in windows? if you are using it so little that you want to cover it, you might as well disable it.

amelius Apr 28, 2017 View on HN

Why not use a regular webcam with some diffusing glass in front to protect privacy?

sebzim4500 Apr 6, 2023 View on HN

Cover the camera with some tape? That's what I do with my laptop camera.

stonecharioteer Nov 16, 2021 View on HN

How about a physical webcam blocker so all you get is a black screen?

sametmax Jun 5, 2016 View on HN

This is why I got a shutter on m laptop camera. It's mechanicl, and I can see it's on or off. It should be a legal obligation to provide those, for camera and mic.

turtleneck Sep 19, 2018 View on HN

Do you really expect people to just give you access to their webcameras? Looks shady.

plesn May 19, 2010 View on HN

I wonder if the LED of the webcam was on when they where spyed (and more generally if you can disable those by software).

remarkEon May 2, 2020 View on HN

Easy fix: a piece of tape over your camera, that you only remove when you actually want to display yourself (and your surroundings) to the world.