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What stupidly easy tech solution do people gloss over all of the time? (kbin.melroy.org)

submitted 4 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

222 comments fedilink hide all child comments

For me it's the paranoia surrounding webcams. People outright refuse to own one and I understand, until they go on and on about how they're being spied. Here's the secret - unplug the damn thing when you think you won't use it or haven't used it in a while.

They, whoever it is, can't really spy on you on something that's already off and unplugged!

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Majority of "webcam" use is in laptops, tablets and phones, grandpa... No "unplug the damn thing" to be found?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They often come equipped with a privacy slider to cover the lens. Or you can just put a sticker on them.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They don't "often come with" I'd say it's fairly rare, and especially in the last generation of computers that most have now.

Also, what you mention are all steps above and beyond OP's direction to "just unplug it" and they come with compromises - I.e. A shutter cover isn't a HW disconnect, two very different things. And, a sticker isn't really removable temporarily when you actually do need the camera deliberately. Certain high end laptops have a purported physical HW disconnect toggle or even some "flip around" cameras that are only deployed when needed, but again, few and far between.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Sorry if I was wrong about the prevalence of such protections. My perception may be biased because the notebooks used by our company are all equipped with a switch or shutter of some sort. (HP brand, IIRC) Regarding your second point, however: surely a shutter physically obscuring the camera lens is just as effective as disconnecting the camera when it comes to protecting the user's privacy?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

Yes, common that folks in more privileged positions can have these skewed views on products, like, "Uber is a pretty good service and a good value..." but you only pay on your corporate expense account... When normal people need a ride now, it's $80 for a 14 minute ride that used to cost 25-30 bucks. Someone's we can just live fully different realities from most people.

You often forget to close camera shutters (they are often tone on tone and designed to be more invisible, or they can fall open/off. The microphones are also often located near/in camera modules, so a slide shutter can give a false sense of security, but you can still be heard even if not seen sometimes. I do hope it gets to a point where HW disconnect is the norm