[dpkonofa]

The camera already functions this way. The light is connected to the actual power of the camera and cannot be disabled unless the camera is also disabled. The microphone, to my knowledge, doesn't function like this but I don't think it makes sense for it to function like this as the microphone doesn't really need power outside of what's provided to the amps and DACs inside the machine. It would be too easy to work around. Any membrane capable of vibration would be able to be used as a microphone, including the laptop's speakers, so it'd be more work for little gain.

[snacktaster]

> The light is connected to the actual power of the camera and cannot be disabled unless the camera is also disabled.

This was proven false when malware was discovered that accessed the camera on Mac laptops without activating the LED light. It's mentioned in the article.

[alphabettsy]

The reasearch to prove that vulnerability was done on Macs made up until 2008 if I’m not mistaken. It’s not clear if that attack is still possible.

[enos]

Which Macs still have a light?

[macintux]

I believe they all do, but I haven’t been able to find a document to confirm that.

[mortenjorck]

The article TechCrunch links to, about Patrick Wardle’s research on the FruitFly malware, actually never mentions defeating the webcam LED: https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-analysis-fruitfly-mac-malw...

It’s possible that Wardle’s Black Hat paper does, but the link doesn’t back up the assertion in the TechCrunch piece.

[dpkonofa]

This was not proven false. The malware that was discovered only affected iMacs and MacBooks from 2008 and prior when the light was not directly connected to the camera's power. That didn't happen until early 2009.

[isostatic]

Am I the only one who has tape over my laptop camera? (Specifically a peppa pig sticker)

[jnaina]

I bought these for all the laptops being used by my family. Especially useful when you are in a group video conference and you need a quick and foolproof way to blank the video.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2018-WebCam-Cover-Laptop-Cam...

[ambicapter]

I have an EFF sticker specifically for this.