You'll see why 2024 will be just like 1984...

[Earthborn]

Apple invents (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/03/26/apples_patent_for_an_lcd_display_that_also_takes_p hotos_video.html) the two way flat screen monitor; a flat display that also functions as a camera. Let the surveillance begin!

[CelticRose]

Meh. All that means is that people will have to be careful about where they point their screens.

We already have the potential for that kind of surveillance. Ever notice the built-in webcams on newer laptops? It's just a matter of time before someone figures out how to hack those so that they can watch someone without their knowledge, if they haven't already. Of course, there's a quick fix for that: paper and tape.

[Earthborn]

Ever notice the built-in webcams on newer laptops? It's just a matter of time before someone figures out how to hack those so that they can watch someone without their knowledge, if they haven't already.Someone has already figured that out. All it requires is a bit of spyware.

Of course, there's a quick fix for that: paper and tape.Which of course won't work for a two way screen; you'd need a lot of tape, and you wouldn't see anything on the screen yourself.

[CelticRose]

Which of course won't work for a two way screen; you'd need a lot of tape, and you wouldn't see anything on the screen yourself.
Like I said, you just have to be careful about where you point the screen. And be like the Jetsons and put your makeup on before you step in front of the screen. ;)

Seriously, all you have to do is wear a mask of some sort and make sure that the only thing visible behind you is a blank wall.

[Wowbagger]

They had that in Russia many decades ago. Didn't you hear Yakov Smirnoff's old joke:

"In America you watch the television. In Soviet Russia, the television watches you."

[shadron]

Of course, there's a quick fix for that: paper and tape.

Yeah, maduro bob has got the answer for that:

14415

[moopet]

Cardboard, tape, sheet of glass from an old picture frame, crt monitor, webcam. Put that idea together in about 2001. It's much nicer looking at the face of the person you're speaking to than at the desk in front of them...

[INRM]

Earthborn,

Someone has already figured that out. All it requires is a bit of spyware.

I know, I heard about that. As a result I have a piece of paper over the camera which is taped-up to hold it in place so that can't happen.

This is really a bad idea I think to have a computer screen that can take pictures. You can't tape over that system...


INRM

[The_Fire]

*Gets ducttape and laptop*

Well, wouldn't it be a matter of finding the correct connection pin and disable it?

[Blackadder]

if you are so paranoid, get a one way mirror between you and your screen.. You can look through at the screen, the screen cannot look back

[BenBurch]

Note that on all the Apple machines I have you cannot activate the camera without an LED going on too, its hard-wired.

[INRM]

The_Fire,

I know very little about the complexities of computers, I just know the basics.

Taping over the cam is obviously a very simple approach, but it works currently...


Blackadder,

I actually had thought of that...

[Skeptic Ginger]

Yeah, maduro bob has got the answer for that:
14415How about just putting a one way mirror in front of the screen?

Whoops, already suggested.

[plumjam]

Most monitors are visible from 170 degrees to the side. Therefore simply view your monitor from 169 degrees, maybe from behind a small frame covered in net curtain. If it's a laptop type on it using a fishing rod with a lead toy soldier dangling from the fishing line.

[Toke]

The camera in my laptop has a plastic slider to cover it when not in use.
That must be the first thing they ask about at a technical hotline.:D

[Wudang]

Most monitors are visible from 170 degrees to the side. Therefore simply view your monitor from 169 degrees, maybe from behind a small frame covered in net curtain. If it's a laptop type on it using a fishing rod with a lead toy soldier dangling from the fishing line.

No just mstsc to it from your other computer which doesn't have a camera. You know, the one in the basement with the big hard drive.

[thaiboxerken]

Yay, now people can watch me masturbate while I surf porn on the internet!

[-Axiom-]

The simplest most effective fix is not to buy it in the first place.

[INRM]

-Axiom-

But wouldn't all future screens have this?

[Wudang]

No.

[-Axiom-]

-Axiom-

But wouldn't all future screens have this?


I hope not.

[Safe-Keeper]

I know, I heard about that. As a result I have a piece of paper over the camera which is taped-up to hold it in place so that can't happen.Or you can just, you know, turn it off. Or pull the plug on it. I fail to see the problem.

This is really a bad idea I think to have a computer screen that can take pictures. You can't tape over that system...I still don't see the problem. If you don't want it, don't buy it.

if you are so paranoid, get a one way mirror between you and your screen.. You can look through at the screen, the screen cannot look back
Or, you know, don't buy one in the first place.

[CelticRose]

I know, I heard about that. As a result I have a piece of paper over the camera which is taped-up to hold it in place so that can't happen.

Or you can just, you know, turn it off. Or pull the plug on it. I fail to see the problem.
You can't turn off or unplug a webcam that's built into a laptop. Not unless you're tech-savvy enough to mess around with a computer's innards, that is.

[The_Fire]

The_Fire,

I know very little about the complexities of computers, I just know the basics.

Taping over the cam is obviously a very simple approach, but it works currently...


My point was: If you really want to stop something, then a way can be found.

[The_Fire]

You can't turn off or unplug a webcam that's built into a laptop. Not unless you're tech-savvy enough to mess around with a computer's innards, that is.

And if you can't do it yourself, find someone who can.

[arthwollipot]

You can't turn off or unplug a webcam that's built into a laptop. Not unless you're tech-savvy enough to mess around with a computer's innards, that is.Yeah, you can. It's not hard. You just need to uninstall the driver, which is a straightforward set of instructions that anyone can follow.

Mind you, it's about as secure as window locks. Anyone who's really determined can re-activate it by reinstalling the driver remotely, just like anyone who's really determined can get into your house by breaking the window. They would need remote admin privileges (which isn't terribly hard) and to know what model of laptop it is (which also isn't terribly hard). It's enough to discourage random script kiddies, which is about as secure as computers get when they're connected to the internet.

[Starthinker]

Can anyone give me an example of a cam being taken over and used after a user has shut it off?

[thaiboxerken]

Yes, Star, my wife took my camera and recorded some footage of my dog after I turned it off.

[iiwo]

While I admit this does sound a bit odd, I'd opt to think it's not as scary as it sounds. Of course it could be co-opted for malicious things, but as art said:

Yeah, you can. It's not hard. You just need to uninstall the driver, which is a straightforward set of instructions that anyone can follow...{snip}


This route makes it hard to use the camera when you want to. Installing and uninstalling all the time is a pain; and it won't keep really determined people out anyway (as arth said a moment later).

You could also opt not to buy a machine with that tech (in reference to the Apple article), and/or--and this is novel--turn the machine off when you're not using it! Unplug it, take out the battery, whatever. For as many things as can be done to a computer remotely, plugging in the power cord is not one of them.

[Starthinker]

Yes, Star, my wife took my camera and recorded some footage of my dog after I turned it off.

Not that I don't believe you, but how? Was it a program she accessed remotely, already knowing any passwords and programs used?

I'm sorry, but I don't buy that anyone can access one of my cameras and use it without me knowing. I challenge anyone to post a pic from one of my cams that isn't activated via some program (the current cam posting to my website doesn't count). One is built into a laptop. I'll leave them all connected and leave all the computers on while I'm away at TAM. Hack away.

I'm sure someone can eff up my webpage, it's happened before as it's just a hobby, and I don't spend much time on it. But activate and use one of my cams? I don't think so.

[Earthborn]

Not that I don't believe you, but how? Was it a program she accessed remotely, already knowing any passwords and programs used?My guess is that she picked up the camera and turned it back on with the button on top.

I challenge anyone to post a pic from one of my cams that isn't activated via some programWhen talking about webcams, the terms of your challenge are heavily stacked against anyone who might want to try; a webcam is always activated by "some program", because everything attached to a computer is. But that certainly doesn't mean it is entirely impossible to activate a webcam remotely without the user knowing about it. All it requires is a driveby-download if the computer's security is poor. Once security is breached, a program can basically do anything you can do with your computer. Behind your back.

Which means the solution is also pretty simple: get a decent firewall and virus scanner and don't download dodgy software. Or, since it is Apple that invented these superscreens, get a Mac. Nobody wants to look at a Mac user. ;)

[Alareth]

Earthborn,



I know, I heard about that. As a result I have a piece of paper over the camera which is taped-up to hold it in place so that can't happen.

This is really a bad idea I think to have a computer screen that can take pictures. You can't tape over that system...


INRM

Don't forget to unplug your microphone and disconnect your phones because they might be listening to you too.

And board up your windows so they can't use laser mics on them.

[gnome]

You cover your windows with lead
Even keeping the pets outside
Then you hear a moment too late this sound coming over the phone
"This is the spawning of the cage and aquarium
Don't wait a moment too soon
Used to be different, now you're the same
Yawn as your plane goes down in flames"

--They Might Be Giants

[Bobert]

The simplest most effective fix is not to buy it in the first place.
Do you mean porn?

[Soapy Sam]

The simple fact is that people don't actually see computers any more unless they are in an unusual context.
At my work,on a drilling rig, realtime data are relayed to the office in town all the time. Last week I chanced to notice that one of the rig office computers has had a webcam fitted. Apparently it had been there for two months, but I had failed to notice it. It's used for video conferencing.
I asked if it was live. Nobody knew- but it can be rotated to point at the desk and someone had done this.
"So what about sound pickup?" I asked. "Is the mike live?"
It suddenly went very quiet in there.