More importantly, run an operating system you can trust.
this post was submitted on 10 May 2025
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Privacy
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I have Linux Mint installed on my laptop, I just don't trust M$ Windows with their AI crap.
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TL;DR
Yes
Also disable all microphones etc. of course
Fun fact, every speaker is a microphone and vice versa.
While true, an average speaker isn't sensitive enough to get quality or understandable sound out of, and that's assuming software can be rewritten to accept input from them.
This isn't a realistic privacy concern imo, but it is a novel fun fact, and if you have a 3.5mm jack you can play around with it on a PC
Two questions:
- Does my soundcard have an ADC wired (directly) to my speakers?
- If yes: Why?
Usually/some can define their inputs and outputs as needed. My PC has 2 3.5 mm hand at the back and 2 at the front, they can be configured in any way I want essentially.
Absolutely, unless you're lucky enough to have a laptop with a Physical killswitch on your Webcam + Mic module, then it's not needed since flipping the Switch physically kills power to the Camera module's USB header.
Framework Laptops have this Feature.
My Asus has one and I didn't know about it and FOR YEARS I thought my webcam was broken- it wasn't even showing up in the device manager. I bought an external webcam, because I figured it was pooched and I had to use a webcam sometimes, but not often enough to care into looking to get it repaired.
This is a story about me being dumb.
Maybe that's why many PCs these days don't have them, and also why they don't have network kill-switches anymore. People just got confused and thought something was broken.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've since been issued new laptops for work that have physical covers built in and I'm a big fan of those, though I know it doesn't disable a mic.
My Thinkpad has a built-in camera cover. I keep it closed unless I'm specifically using it.
Thinkpads are great that way
This is the way...
Zuckerberg has been doing this for over a decade.
https://mashable.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-webcam-cover
The answer is yes, obviously duh, yes.
I learned the other day my laptop doesn’t even have a camera. I’ve never noticed in the six months of owning it.
Excellent.
I have a 15+ year old lamp on my desk which has a bulb that gets quite hot. Didn't realize my laptop was directly under it one day. Melted the laptop lid slightly directly where the camera is located.
Everything else works fine except for the camera. I always disabled it in BIOS but now it's physically disabled. Sometimes the adhd solves problems on it's own.
Have there ever been cases where this actually happened?
Yes, several schools have been caught activating cameras in the home, and have punished students for activities seen on those illegally enabled cameras
Nothing happened to the schools
Spying trough the webcam?
Hell yeah. There's even sellers on hacker forums that sell access to the computers of hot girls. It's sick but it happens.
Most big time hackers don't do this though. They'll have so many computers under their control they don't waste time on singular targets.
Can you provide any sources?
This was over 10 years ago, but it popped into my head as soon as I saw this thread. Over 1,600 rent-to-own stores were found by the FTC to have spyware installed on laptops that enabled the stores to access the webcams. The spyware also included keyloggers.
I would bet money that this type of shit still happens.
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Cover all cameras on all devices.
Related, when we were shopping for a smart TV last year, it was so difficult to find one without a microphone... I already don't like my phone having a microphone, why would I put it into my bloody TV...
I already don’t like my phone having a microphone
A phone without a microphone. A phone... without a microphone... is not a phone.
Can I ask what you use a phone for?
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Yes. Technically everything is hackable.
EFF gives out tiny stickers at conventions for that purpose. I've been staring at an EFF sticker for years.
Yes, yes you should.
Hell, I unplug the damned thing when I'm not using it.
Oh yeah. Use electrical tape.
Can you cover the lens with sandpaper and rub it for a few minutes? Permanent problems require permanent solutions
This is the energy I’m looking for. Impractical but powerful.
My framework laptop has a built-in, physical kill switch for both the webcam and mic.
On my desktop pc, I cover the webcam or unplug it entirely until I need it.
Yeah I use a desktop PC, and like once every 2 weeks I plug in my webcam for a work meeting, the rest of the time I bask in the comfort that my PC has no visual/audio sensors 😌
I have a cheap garbage windows work laptop without a cover. So I just put a clothesline clip on it at all times.
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