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The FBI Director Puts Tape Over His Webcam (npr.org)
Martin Kaste, reporting for NPR: FBI Director James Comey gave a speech this week about encryption and privacy, repeating his argument that "absolute privacy" hampers law enforcement. But it was an offhand remark during the Q&A session at Kenyon College that caught the attention of privacy activists. Kaste points to a tweet by The Kenyon Collegian, "Comey admits he puts a piece of tape over the webcam lens on his laptop." The thought of the FBI chief taping over his webcam is an arresting one for many. His comment Wednesday was in response to a question about growing public awareness of the ways technology can spy on people, and he acknowledged sharing in the surveillance anxiety. "I saw something in the news, so I copied it. I put a piece of tape -- I have obviously a laptop, personal laptop -- I put a piece of tape over the camera. Because I saw somebody smarter than I am had a piece of tape over their camera." Not everyone is a fan. Security and privacy activist Christopher Soghoian said, "FBI Director Comey has created a "warrant-proof webcam" that will thwart lawful surveillance should he ever be investigated. Shame on him."
I'll bet he also locks his doors, doesn't write his passwords on sticky notes, and doesn't believe the Nigerian "Princes".
Tempest, teapot.
I don't, but then I make sure Dell sends me the SKU that the DoD orders when I order my laptops. You know, the one that is camera delete. Every major manufacturer has a SKU for the DoD that eliminates the camera and has a physical switch that disables the wireless chip, and the DoD tests to make sure the wireless is really disabled. If the company sales rep says he doesn't know anything about it tell him to talk to the DoD sales rep.
Yes, they will sell to non-DoD customers. You would think the head of the FBI would do this too.
Just because you aren't doing something wrong doesn't mean you don't have something to hide.
Example, many companies prohibit cameras and devices with cameras (phones, tablets, laptops, etc) in their offices and other facilities, This is to help protect their intellectual property from being seen by the competition.
Don't try to out wierd me, three-eyes. I get stranger things than you, free with my breakfast cereal. --Zaphod Beeblebr
Oh, here it is: FBI can spy on you through your webcam without triggering the indicator light... and has had the technology for several years. That's from 2013. I really doubt anything has changed in this regard, i.e. most, if not all, computer webcams are spying devices.
most computers with a built-in mic use software control to select between audio input sources, based on detecting the presence of that plug in the mic jack. And as with the cameras, that has the possibility of a software override. I have NO problem recording from my built-in mic while i have a mic plugged into my comuter - I just go into sound prefs and switch mics, because the software defaults to external when present.
And that green light that shows your webcam is on, that may also be under software control. Some manufacturers run that light off the power that runs the CCD etc in the camera when it's in use, and others turn it on (or OFF) in software, so it's not necessarily an accurate indication of camera activity.
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.