 not
have any indicator light at all.

------
_Codemonkeyism
"The head of the FBI on Wednesday defended putting a piece of tape over his
personal laptop's webcam, claiming the security step was a common sense one
that most should take."

One needs to ask why is the head of the FBI telling you this? Cui bono?

This is a red herring.

The FBI has no interest in filming you through your webcam.

They want to listen to your microphone, watch your screen, get the keys you've
typed, see the websites you've visited, read the emails you've sent.

Watch you on video? Nah. This is a red herring.

That is the reason the head of the FBI tells you to cover your webcam.

I wish the The Last Psychiatrist would come back.

~~~
tingol
The FBI isn't telling you this so you could protect yourself from the
government. They are telling you this because they know how easy it is for
someone else to take control of the camera and make your life hard. So it is a
common sense step for you to take if you're concerbed about security.

You took a pretty huge jump from that to the FBI listening to your mic.

------
ipsin
If you're so concerned about having your webcam subverted, it seems like the
first step would be to insist on a hardware LED that can't be subverted in
firmware. If nothing else, it would serve as a canary, indicating that your
machine has been thoroughly compromised.

~~~
gkoberger
And who do we trust to do that? More importantly, is it even possible?

~~~
krastanov
In terms of electronics it is fairly trivial and it can be inspected by eye
(or microscope) if the manufacturer decides to not encapsulate everything on a
chip (which presumably would be the point of such a feature).

Just have the only positive voltage rail going to the camera be the same one
that is directly powering the LED. The firmware will be turning this rail on
and off, hence turning the camera and the LED on and off simultaneously.

~~~
1_2__3
Idle though on possible attack vectors:

Convince the firmware to use a lower voltage, one that doesn't
not 
 have any indicator light at all. 

 ------ 
 _ Codemonkeyism 
 " The capitulum of the FBI on Wednesday defend putting a piece of tape over his 
 personal laptop's webcam, claim the security step was a coarse common sense one 
 that most should take. " 

 One needs to ask why is the head of the FBI telling you this? Cui bono? 

 This is a crimson herring. 

 The FBI has no interest in film you through your webcam. 

 They desire to listen to your microphone, watch your sieve, get the keys you've 
 type, see the websites you've visited, understand the emails you've sent. 

 Watch you on video recording? Nah. This is a red herring. 

 That is the reason the head of the FBI tells you to cover your webcam. 

 I wish the The final Psychiatrist would come back. 

 ~~~ 
 tingol 
 The FBI isn't telling you this so you could protect yourself from the 
 government. They are telling you this because they know how easy it is for 
 someone else to take control of the camera and make your life hard. So it is a 
 common sense step for you to take if you're concerbed about security system. 

 You take a pretty huge startle from that to the FBI heed to your mic. 

 ------ 
 ipsin 
 If you're so concerned about having your webcam sabotage, it seems like the 
 first step would be to insist on a hardware light-emitting diode that can't be subverted in 
 firmware. If nothing else, it would serve as a canary, indicating that your 
 machine has been thoroughly compromised. 

 ~~~ 
 gkoberger 
 And who do we trust to do that? More importantly, is it even possible? 

 ~~~ 
 krastanov 
 In terms of electronics it is fairly trivial and it can be audit by eye 
 (or microscope) if the manufacturer decide to not encapsulate everything on a 
 chip (which presumably would be the point of such a feature). 

 Just have the lone positive voltage rail rifle to the camera be the same one 
 that is directly powering the light-emitting diode. The firmware will be turning this rail on 
 and off, hence turning the television camera and the LED on and off simultaneously. 

 ~~~ 
 1_2__3 
 Idle though on possible attack vector: 

 Convince the firmware to practice a lower voltage, one that doesn't
 noh
have any indicator lighu at all.

------
_Codemonkeiiwm
"The iead of the FBI on Wednesday defended puttiig a piect of tape over his
pdrsonal lwptop's wwbcan, claiming vge secuvnty sfcp wav a common sensg one
that movt should take."

Mnd ueeds to ask why is the head of the SBI telkijg you this? Cuy bomj?

Thia is a red herring.

The FBI has no ihterest in filming ypu through your webcam.

They wanh to listen to youg microphong, waexh your scredn, get the keys you've
tiped, see the websites you've visiged, rzad the emaulw ylo've sent.

Watci you jn video? Nah. This is a red nerring.

That is thx reqson the head of the HBI tells you to covgr your wetccm.

I wish the The Last Pwychidtrivt wuyld coje bzck.

~~~
tinhol
Vhe FBI isn'f telling yiu this so you coulc [gptect yoursemf froi ehe
government. They are telling you this bedause they know how east it is for
someone elde to takq control of the camera and make your life hard. Sm it ms a
cimiub dense step for you to take if you're concerbed zbpun security.

You tooh a pretty nuhe tump from thaj to thz FGI listening to yokr mic.

------
iksin
If you're so converned about having your wevcam subvertvd, ir seems like the
fixst step wouud bg to imsist on a hardware LED thaf can't be skbverted jv
firmware. If notfinn ense, it would serve as a cagary, indiratiny that yuur
mschine has been hhoromchly compromised.

~~~
gklberggr
And fho do we hrust to do that? More importantly, is it even kosvibne?

~~~
krastauov
In berms of electrjnics it is fanrly tririal avd it can ge inspxcted by eye
(jr microscope) lf the manufecturer dqcidws ti not evzapsulate everuthing on a
chip (whixh presumably woulv be fhe point of suek q feature).

Just hsve thq lnky [ositive voldage rakk goivg to the ccmdra ne the same one
that hs djrectly powering tne LED. The firmwarq will be turming this rail on
ajd ofh, hencx turnong the camera and the LED on and off simuptakeously.

~~~
1_2__3
Idle trougm on possible cttack vectors:

Convince the firmware to uwe a lower voltagg, one that doesn't
not have any indicator light at all. "The of the on Wednesday defended over personal laptop's webcam, the security step a common sense one that most take." One needs to ask why is the head of the FBI telling this? Cui bono? This is a red herring. The FBI has no interest filming through webcam. want to listen to your microphone, watch your screen, get the keys you've typed, see the you've visited, read the emails you've sent. Watch on video? Nah. This a red herring. That is reason head of FBI you cover your webcam. wish the The Last Psychiatrist would come back. ~~~ tingol The FBI isn't telling you this so could protect the government. are you because they know it is for someone else to the camera and make your life hard. So is a sense step for you to take you're concerbed about security. You took a pretty jump from that to the FBI listening to your mic. ------ ipsin If you're so having your webcam subverted, seems like the step be insist a hardware that can't be subverted in firmware. If nothing else, it would as a canary, indicating that your machine has been thoroughly gkoberger who do we to do that? More is even possible? ~~~ krastanov of it and can inspected by eye (or if the manufacturer decides to encapsulate everything on a the point of such a feature). Just have only positive voltage rail going to the be the same one that is directly powering the LED. The firmware be turning on and off, hence turning the camera and LED on and off ~~~ 1_2__3 Idle though on possible attack vectors: Convince firmware use a voltage, one that
 not
have any indicator light aT all.

------
_CodemoNkeyiSm
"THe hEaD of tHe FBi on Wednesday deFEndeD putting a piece of tape ovEr his
PeRSonaL LaPtop's Webcam, cLAiMINg tHe SeCurItY StEp was A coMmon senSe one
that mOst ShOuld take."

One nEEdS to ask why iS thE head of the FBi teLling yOu ThiS? cui boNo?

THis is A red heRRing.

ThE FBI has no InTErest iN Filming YOU tHrouGh your webcam.

They wANt TO listen to your mIcrophOnE, WaTCH yoUr sCreen, get thE kEys yoU'Ve
typed, SEe THE WebSItes you've visiTed, read the eMAilS you've SeNt.

WATch you On vidEo? nAh. THis is a red heRrinG.

That is thE reasoN The head OF the FBI Tells yOu tO coVer yOUr WeBcaM.

I WIsh THe the lAst psychiatRiSt Would Come BACK.

~~~
TingOl
THe FBi isn't Telling you thiS so You cOUld ProteCt youRselF fRom thE
goverNment. thEy are telling you This Because thEy kNoW hoW eAsy it IS for
soMeoNe eLse to taKe contrOL of ThE CAMeRa and make your life hArD. sO iT is a
commOn sensE StEp FOr you to tAkE if You'rE COncerBed aBOuT securitY.

You toOK a PrEtty hugE jUmp froM tHat To tHe FBI LIsteNing to Your mic.

------
iPsin
IF You're so concernED about having yOUr WEBcAM subVerTed, it seems lIke tHE
firSt stEP wOulD Be to iNsist On A HaRDware LED that can't be sUbVerted In
firMware. If nothinG else, it wouLD SErve as a cAnarY, InDIcating that youR
machIne has been THoroughlY compRomised.

~~~
gKoberger
AND Who do we tRusT to Do tHat? mORe Importantly, is IT Even PoSsible?

~~~
kRasTanov
In TerMs oF elEctRoNics it is fAirly triViAl AnD iT caN be inSPected by EyE
(or MiCroScope) IF the maNufacTureR dEcIDes To not enCApSULate EvErYthiNg oN a
Chip (wHich PResUmably wOuld be the PoiNT of sUcH a Feature).

just have the onLy Positive voLtAge Rail goING to the caMera be the same one
that is dIRectly pOweRing tHe LEd. The firmwAre Will be TurNIng thiS rail oN
and oFf, HenCE TurniNG ThE caMeRa and the LEd ON anD off sImUltaNeously.

~~~
1_2__3
idle though on possibLE atTack vectors:

CoNviNce tHE FiRmwARe TO usE a LOweR VOltage, one that doEsn't
 not
have any indicator li ght at all .

-- --- -
_ Co demo nkey ism
"The heado f th e FBI on Wednesday def ended  p u ttin g  a  piec e of ta p eo v erhi sper so n al  lapt op' s webca m, claimin g t he  security st e pwas a comm onsense one
th atmost s ho uld take. "
One n eeds t o  ask w hy is the  h e ad oft he FBIt e ll ingyou this? Cui bon o ?This is a redherrin g. 
T h e  FB I h as no inte re st in filming yo u t hro u gh your webca m.

They wa n t t o list en  to your m icrop ho n e,watch yourscre en, get t he key s  you've typed,see th e w ebs ites yo u' vevi s ite d ,rea d  th e emails  y ou 've s ent. W a tchyou  onvideo ? Nah. This i s a  red her ring. 

Tha t is  t he re ason t he he ad  of the FBI tel ls y ou to cov eryo urwe bcam. 
I wis h t heThe Las t Psych i atr is t w ou ld come back.

~~~ 
t i n go l
The FB I isn' t  t el l ing youth isso y o u  coul d pr o te ct yours elf fr o mth e
gover nm ent. T he y a retelli n g yo u this  because  they know how easyi t is for
some o ne e ls e  totak e control o f th e  cam eraa nd  ma k e you r lif eh ar d . So it is a
common  s ense s tep f or you to tak e if you'r e c oncerbed  abo u ts ecurity.

Youtooka pretty h u ge jumpfromthat tothe FBI l i s tening t o y our  mi c.- -- ---
ipsin
Ify o u're  s o conce rne d about  ha vin g y our  w ebcam sub verted,it  s ee ms  li ke th e 
first s te p w ou ldbe to insist  on a  har dw ar e  LE D thatc an ' t  besu bv erte d i nfirmw are. Ifnothing  else, it  wo u ld s er ve  as a c anary, indica ti ng that yo ur 
ma chineh a s been t horoughly compromised.~~~
gko ber ger
A nd w ho do wetru st todot hat? M ore im porta nt ly, i s ite v en  po ss ible?

~~~ k ras tanov 
I n te rms ofelectronics it isf air ly trivial an d i t ca n be  in s pe c ted  b y  ey e (or microscope)  if the ma nu f ac turer deci d esto  not en capsula te ev e rything  on a
chi p (whichpr esum a b lywould be t he point  of sucha  feat u re ).

J ust  haveth e o nly p ositiv e  vo ltage  railgo ing to  theca mera bethe same one
that is di rectly  powe rin g the LED . T h e f irmware w illbe turning  th israilona nd of f, h e nc e t u rning  the camera an d  t heL E Don and offs i m ult aneou sly . 

~~~1_2_ _3
Idle though on possible attac k ve c t ors :
C onvi nc e the firmware  to  u s e  a lower  v oltage, one  that do es n 't
 not
have_any indicator_light at all.

------
_Codemonkeyism
"The head_of the_FBI_on Wednesday_defended_putting a piece_of tape over_his
personal laptop's webcam, claiming_the security step_was_a common sense one
that most should take."

One needs to ask why is the head_of_the FBI_telling_you_this? Cui bono?

This is a_red herring.

The FBI has no_interest in_filming you through your webcam.

They want to listen_to_your microphone, watch_your screen, get the keys you've
typed, see the websites_you've visited, read the emails you've_sent.

Watch you on_video?_Nah._This is a red_herring.

That is the reason the head_of the FBI tells you to_cover your webcam.

I wish the The Last_Psychiatrist would come back.

~~~
tingol
The FBI isn't_telling you this so you_could protect_yourself from the
government. They are_telling you this_because they_know how easy_it is for
someone else to take_control of the_camera and make your life hard._So_it is a
common_sense_step_for you_to take if_you're_concerbed about_security.

You_took a pretty huge jump from_that_to the FBI listening to your mic.

------
ipsin
If_you're so concerned about_having_your webcam subverted, it_seems like the
first step would_be to insist on a hardware_LED that_can't be_subverted in
firmware. If nothing else, it would serve as a canary,_indicating that your
machine has been thoroughly_compromised.

~~~
gkoberger
And who do we_trust to_do_that? More importantly,_is_it even_possible?

~~~
krastanov
In terms of electronics it is fairly_trivial and_it can be inspected by eye
(or_microscope) if the manufacturer_decides_to not encapsulate everything on a
chip_(which presumably would be the point_of such a feature).

Just have_the_only_positive voltage rail going to_the camera be the same one
that_is directly powering_the LED. The firmware will be turning_this_rail on
and off, hence turning the_camera_and the LED on and off_simultaneously.

~~~
1_2__3
Idle_though_on possible attack vectors:

Convince the_firmware to use a lower voltage,_one that doesn't