Smile MacBook Users, You're on Camera!
Scary, huh? It's you on the internet! Well, not really - its just looping back locally. But still. I blatantly stole this cool trick from this guy.
(For those not on an iSight equipped Mac: the above box shows the video feed from the Mac's built-in webcam).
But seriously, I am a little concerned about the iSight. It's fun and has the geek factor and everything, but there also are security and privacy issues that I think Apple seems to have pretty much ignored.
This morning, I was on a WebEx. The WebEx software and the iSight both decided that video of me should be transmitted. The WebEx software provides no way to disable this. Apple provides no way to disable the camera. A control panel? A shutter? Better yet, a removable camera? A BTO option to skip it entirely? Something? Please?
And yes, I do know I could fix this with a 1 sq cm of electrical tape. But then how am I going to get that consulting gig at NORAD if they won't let me through the 20-foot-thick door with my machine?
I adore my new macbook. I used the iSight the other day to show my brother in law my pedal situation on my bike (he's a bike engineer) in hopes he would fix it or stop issueing faulty parts like that. Anyways, very cool. Very addictive. Not sure re: the security risk, tho.
Yeah, I guess I should have been more clear. There are actually two very different kinds of security concerns.
One is that someone will hack your camera and take pictures of you. Maybe not likely, but this web page shows how easy it is to at least turn the camera on. It doesn't seem crazy.
The other security problem comes up when you simply want to take your mac into a place where cameras are a no-no. This is a bigger problem. It isn't just the CIA, either - just about every business has IP to protect, and many of them make you check all cameras at the door (even if it's in a cell phone).