Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230
Malware can turn off webcam LED and record video, demonstrated on ThinkPad X230
Tools for controlling webcam LED on ThinkPad X230. Contribute to xairy/lights-out development by creating an account on GitHub.
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.bestiver.se/post/121053
Why the fuck isn’t there just a simple status LED that is on the same circuit as the camera? If the camera is on, the LED is on. Period.
Why the fuck isn’t there just a simple status LED that is on the same circuit as the camera?
Because cameras aren't simple on-off devices powered by a single wire, that's why. It's always got power, and it's turned "on" (send image data over the data bus) and "off" (do not send data) by software commands over the same data bus.
So the most convenient solution is then have the camera IC have an output that can drive an indicator light. And as camera ICs are basically full computers in their own right, they can be reprogrammed so that they don't turn on that output.
End result is that you are much better off either having a physical cover over the camera lens, or having a USB camera that you can unplug.
For this the best AV (100% proof)
(A piece of tape also works fine)
I use a small band-aid - no gummy glue on the lens!
Anyway I think that a Webcam cover should be a default on webcams, not only for privacy, but also for th same reason why Cams and binoculars have caps by default, to protect the lens. If you use a tape, to avoid glue on the lens, you can cover the intern part which is over the lens with a piece of paper
Nice thing is that the X230 still closes properly with a thin sliding webcam cover.