Note tape over Webcam & microphone
Credit: wn.com
You may have read on these pages why disabling your webcam, when it’s not in use, is a good idea. And there’s evidence that FBI Director James Comey thinks so too.
Edward Snowden as well – https://www.wired.com/2014/03/webcams-mics/
As indicated in the image above, Mark Zuckerberg seems to agree, although the evidence doesn’t support the Gizmodo assertion that this makes him, “Paranoid As Fuck”.
Gizmodo
http://gizmodo.com/wow-mark-zuckerberg-is-paranoid-as-fuck-1782370124
Disabling a webcam is simple – if unplugging isn’t an option, the Zuckerberg method is 100% effective.
Preventing audio hacking on a built-in microphone isn’t so easy. Tape over the microphone may muffle the sound, but that’s all. There are other, more effective, options however:
Mac OS
http://www.macworld.com.au/help/how-to-keep-snoops-from-listening-to-your-laptops-microphone-143088/
Windows
http://windows.wonderhowto.com/how-to/everything-you-need-disable-windows-10-0163552/ / how to keep snoops from listening to your laptop’s microphone security infosec information security shot seen round the world Mark Zuckerberg posted Instagram photo Mac laptop visible in the background Zuckerberg had put tape over his laptop’s camera microphone input mic jack virus viral Edward Snowden exposed NSA US National Security Agency data-gathering behaviour Vice program programme HBO how disable audio video inputs smartphone removing them extreme scrutinised tracked hacked Mark Zuckerberg Edward Snowden sanguine OS X vulnerabilities Mac OS Macintosh OS widespread exploitation attackers government agencies insinuate themselves into Macs target prevent potential general principle camera easy to block effectively black it out microphone harder covering may muffle volume Apple Apple’s laptops some sound would bleed through Zuckerberg’s savvy tape may be a reminder made deeper change software hardware most people fear mics being tapped conversation would be listened particular secret random subject of probing realistic potential NSA-scale audio-to-text extraction inevitable decrease in cost computational power criminal syndicates mass snarfed audio scanned for context reading a credit card number aloud discussing confidential business matter technically plausible today scale will eventually become practical microphone active piece of tape isn’t enough what steps can you take security hardware experts graduated path set microphone input to zero graphical user interface open sound system preference pane each device listed in the Input tab Input Volume zero drag all the way to the left prevents gross misuse software otherwise be able use an audio source without you realising input volume could be controlled through this approach security malicious software malware reset input volume bypassing settings pull audio directly from device stage before setting applied simplest and most direct change no other repercussions turn input volume up device whenever you need to unplug USB input devices while you’re not using them extra protection Macs Mac Macintosh support audio input through 3.5mm headphone jack using ear buds headset combo combination comes with an iPhone insert stubby adapter nothing plugged into it doesn’t apply built-in mics nearly all Macs Macintoshs Mac Macintosh prevent malware capable accessing audio drivers switching on audio input monitor microphone use Micro Snitch maker network-activity detector Little Snitch watches audio video input activity system level detects mic becoming active posts OS X notification floats window non-intrusive animation indicating it’s in use lower level than Sound preference pane separately installed software not found on every Mac more likely malware would trigger it Micro Snitch can’t monitor all input couldn’t alert some USB-attached microphones attaching on demand remove the drivers Windows Linux Apple provide easy access hardware drivers install remove modify settings intentional OS X’s friendly face contrasted Windows’ obscurity manage drivers system-provided interface troubleshoot problems Kenn White cryptography expert National Institute of Standands and Technology’s report securing OS X IT professionals disabling microphone input how to do it background detail disable audio system-wide removing a few driver files Terminal app command unsupported low-level changes unusable system make backup first sudo srm -rf System Library Extensions Apple USB Audio System Library Extensions IO Audio Family System Library Extensions disallow all audio input disable audio output system update restore missing drivers disable audio input hardware /
