Can anyone explain what happened? (Macbook camera problem)

[angelfire]

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/attachment.php?attachmentid=31835&cid=1&stc=1

A week ago, I decided to cover the camera light on my macbook as I'm computer illiterate and couldn't see how to turn it off.
Today, after browsing the thread on the terrible Paris attack, I was on a different site when photo booth, which I definitely had'nt opened, suddenly took over the whole screen and there I was staring at myself staring back at me!
Maybe, I'm being too paranoid here but I don't understand how this could have happened, especially since I had covered the camera light with blue tack.......which tells a story in itself - completely untouched by my hands after sticking it on, this is how it shaped itself over a day or two!!!!! Suspicions obviously confirmed..........

[angelfire]

Yes, completely hopeless - didn't mean to add two photos!

[DeDukshyn]

Either your camera is not where you think it is, or you didn't cover a wide enough area. Don't cover the camera light, cover the camera lens.

[Innocent Warrior]

Tape works better, it doesn't move like Blu-Tack. If you only have clear tape, just tape something opaque over the lens, I just took a length of clear tape, folded it over a few times, and then taped it on. Don't forget to tape your mic too.

No idea how your Photo Booth randomly opened, remote access maybe. My iPhone was remotely accessed earlier this year. I would go to use it and it was on already, also battery charge was low when I had recharged it but not used it. It was also hot, like I had been using it a lot when I hadn't. Maybe try leaving your laptop fully charged and see if the battery goes down without you using it?

[ThePythonicCow]

I added "(Macbook camera problem)" to this thread's title, so that it would be more specific.

[Citizen No2]

I tried............ and failed.

Sometimes I can post pictures from my desktop......... sometimes not.


Pffffftttt !!

31836


Ahhhaaaaaa......... success!

I have this over my camera to remind me that this machine can potentially watch, and hear, everything I do in it's presence.

[angelfire]

Thanks for the advice, all. Dedukshyn - how do I cover the lens? Where is it? How do I turn off the mic?

[DeDukshyn]

Thanks for the advice, all. Dedukshyn - how do I cover the lens? Where is it? How do I turn off the mic?

The lens should be dead center in the top front. two inches of opaque tape should cover it.


Or, you can try something like this ... although I haven't tested it, I don't even have a mac, I just found this on the net, link below.









The MacBook laptop comes with a built-in camera located at the top of the screen in the center. By default, the camera, called an "iSight," is always on in a "standby" state. When a relevant program is launched, such as "Photo Booth," or "iChat video," the camera is already ready for use. For security reasons or to prevent the camera from recording as soon as a program is launched, you can disable the camera.




Click on the "Spotlight" search icon in the top right of the OS X screen. The icon is a "magnifying glass." In the search box, type in "Terminal." Wait for the results to load and click on "Terminal" from the list of results.


Type the following into the "Terminal" prompt (note the space between "mkdir" and the "/") and press "Enter."

"mkdir /System/Library/QuickTime/.iSightBackup"


Type the following command into the "Terminal" prompt (note the space between "mv" and the "/") and press "Enter."

"mv /System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeUSBVDCDIgitizer.component /System/Library/QuickTime/.iSightBackup/"


Click the small red "X" icon in the top left corner of the Terminal to exit. The camera is now disabled.


To enable the camera again, open "Terminal" and type the following command and press "Enter:"
"mv /System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeUSBVDCDIgitizer.component /System/Library/QuickTime/"


Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_6747935_disable-camera-macbook.html

[Helvetic]

Btw: There is now a small very helpful tool out: Micro Snitch (https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html) "Know when someone spies on you!". You need OS X "El Capitan" installed.