Post AZVBkUaBHtrOfpxGfQ by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
(DIR) More posts by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #AZV87kBb2ar7uXHsp6 by agateau@mastodon.xyz
2023-09-06T20:13:22Z
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I find it amusing (or worrying?) that people are concerned by their laptop webcams and happy to have covers for them when IMO they should be more worried about the builtin microphone.If I had to spy on someone, I would be much more interested in earring what's being said than seeing what's happening.#Privacy
(DIR) Post #AZVA858HMVksme1aQi by BWPanda@fosstodon.org
2023-09-06T20:35:49Z
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@agateau As someone who has a webcam cover, I can tell you that:- Even if no one's using the laptop, there's always something to see, but not necessarily always something to hear.- It's easy to cover/block the camera, especially in a way that you can then uncover it again when you want to use it. But (AFAIK) no easy way to block the microphone (especially a way that cannot be remotely hacked) that's also easy to unblock when you want to use it.#privacy #webcam #spying #hacking
(DIR) Post #AZVARubAEm6vu7zVa4 by agateau@mastodon.xyz
2023-09-06T20:39:26Z
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@BWPanda I agree, but I am worried about the false sense of security provided by camera covers.I wish laptop manufacturers would provide hardware microphone switches.
(DIR) Post #AZVBkUaBHtrOfpxGfQ by phlogiston@mastodon.nz
2023-09-06T20:53:56Z
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@agateauVery true, especially with the ubiquitous voice assistants creeping into all Big Tech devices and on by default: Cortana, Siri, Bixby, Google, etc.Plug your computer's incoming 'voice holes' (aka microphones)!#privacy
(DIR) Post #AZVqlph8NJHIYuxtRo by cnx@larkspur.one
2023-09-07T04:33:39.493809Z
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@agateau and @BWPanda, Purism and Pine64 have those on their laptops and phones, but I doubt it will become mainstream.
(DIR) Post #AZVyn30r8wuxn4HQY4 by agateau@mastodon.xyz
2023-09-07T06:03:30Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@cnx @BWPanda oh, that's nice!
(DIR) Post #AZVyrb4qR1fSb6Jauu by agateau@mastodon.xyz
2023-09-07T06:04:16Z
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@xarvos privacy via crappy hardware 😅
(DIR) Post #AZX74mMCnid48bBxZY by suqdiq@chaos.social
2023-09-07T08:01:18Z
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@BWPandaaka why i unplug embedded mics on all my devices, returning to the correct state where a mic is opt-in - as in i have to plug one in@agateau
(DIR) Post #AZX74nXwNZbtpHgqVE by BWPanda@fosstodon.org
2023-09-07T12:01:17Z
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@suqdiq @agateau How do you do that on a laptop? Take it apart I imagine...
(DIR) Post #AZX74oHJeruG60v5EG by suqdiq@chaos.social
2023-09-07T12:52:23Z
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@BWPandaWell on a macbook for example one just undo 8 screws, open case, disconnect a ribbon cable, close case and do the screws. it sounds more daunting than it really is :) other devices such as mobile phone is alot more painful nowadays (so i really only do that to phones when really needed) @agateau
(DIR) Post #AZX74p0KxTv2Ldz2P2 by agateau@mastodon.xyz
2023-09-07T19:11:02Z
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@suqdiq @BWPanda yes I can imagine it's more involved on a phone :)
(DIR) Post #AZX8NzpN2gfRN6YqZ6 by suqdiq@chaos.social
2023-09-07T19:25:43Z
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@agateauUsed to be very easy and chill on phones, i used to do this since i got android phones around android 2.3 :D when removable batteries went away it got harder and harder so only do it on agressive computers such as macbooks nowadays, phones its such a pain that i just keep the dodgy ones out of my house and assume no audio privacy when next to any phones/most-people :D@BWPanda