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Why is wanting a Lens Cover for the iSight Camera considered paranoia ?!

Perfectionist

Perfectionist

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 27, 2006
139
0
London - UK
OK, maybe it isn't essential ..... but it's better to be safe than sorry right ?! :D

I remember years ago when WebCams first hit the market ..... they always had a Lens Cover ..... even my first high end CRT monitor which had a Camera built in had a slide door to cover the lens when not in use ..... why have suddenly these covers gone out of fashion ?? :eek:

Moreover, why have people become so trusting of this and accept it without question or concern ?? :eek:

Has the political state of the World improved or deteriorated ..... have Privacy Laws been strengthened or weakened ..... has computer "hack-ability" become easier or harder ?? :p

I'm not saying that the NSA/CIA/FBI/KGB/MI5/Al-Qaeda/Press/Nosy Neighbours/Hackers would have any interest in what the average computer user gets up to ..... but surely we should all take at least a little precaution with regards to our privacy and liberty ?! :rolleyes:

Especially if all it takes is sliding across a little piece of plastic !! ;)

Everybody uses a Firewall and Anti Virus software (well on a PC anyway!) and would be thought of as foolish if they didn't ..... so why is covering the iSight camera any different ?! :confused:

Apple could very cheaply and easily integrate a nicely designed iSight cover in to the iMac's which would blend in seamlessly and not affect the look and style in any way ..... it's a shame they don't !! :(

Anyhow, www.TheiPatch.com provide a sweet solution to the problem ..... I have no idea how many they are selling but the simple fact that such a company exists shows that this is a feature that would be welcomed by many !! :cool:

PS - It would also keep the Lens clean and dust free wouldn't it !! :apple:
 
Wow, dude, give me your Paypal account and I will just buy you one...

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
Sparky tape

Perfectionist said:
OK, maybe it isn't essential ..... but it's better to be safe than sorry right ?! :D

I remember years ago when WebCams first hit the market ..... they always had a Lens Cover ..... even my first high end CRT monitor which had a Camera built in had a slide door to cover the lens when not in use ..... why have suddenly these covers gone out of fashion ?? :eek:

Moreover, why have people become so trusting of this and accept it without question or concern ?? :eek:

Has the political state of the World improved or deteriorated ..... have Privacy Laws been strengthened or weakened ..... has computer "hack-ability" become easier or harder ?? :p

I'm not saying that the NSA/CIA/FBI/KGB/MI5/Al-Qaeda/Press/Nosy Neighbours/Hackers would have any interest in what the average computer user gets up to ..... but surely we should all take at least a little precaution with regards to our privacy and liberty ?! :rolleyes:

Especially if all it takes is sliding across a little piece of plastic !! ;)

Everybody uses a Firewall and Anti Virus software (well on a PC anyway!) and would be thought of as foolish if they didn't ..... so why is covering the iSight camera any different ?! :confused:

Apple could very cheaply and easily integrate a nicely designed iSight cover in to the iMac's which would blend in seamlessly and not affect the look and style in any way ..... it's a shame they don't !! :(

Anyhow, www.TheiPatch.com provide a sweet solution to the problem ..... I have no idea how many they are selling but the simple fact that such a company exists shows that this is a feature that would be welcomed by many !! :cool:

PS - It would also keep the Lens clean and dust free wouldn't it !! :apple:
Click to expand...

Easy. Cut out a small square of black sparky tape. No need for any iPatches.
 
Perfectionist said:
Everybody uses a Firewall and Anti Virus software (well on a PC anyway!) and would be thought of as foolish if they didn't ..... so why is covering the iSight camera any different ?! :confused:
Click to expand...

It's different because Macs don't need generally hacking/virus protection. It's kind of reversed for us, since those who *do* insist on anti-viruses would be thought more silly since there are none to catch. :p (Apart from stopping the potential spreading of Windows ones).

Anyway, the lack of an iSight cover has never bothered me. . the green light always comes on to alert you when it's being used. If I ever did get paranoid, a piece of tape would do the trick quite cheaply, as phakebrill said. :D
 
You are from London and are complaining about cameras?

Are there not about 4 million cams out on your streets?

But really, its big brother baby!

I can think of about a thousand different things to cover up the CCTV cam on one's computer. Like a mini picture of Immanuel Goldstein, facing inwards. Taped right on that cam.

And just like the tele-screens of 1984.....Don't you turn that thing off, or else.

Oh yes, that green light will always tell you when big brother is taking a peek.........riiiiiiight.

I have asked this many times, an I will ask it again.

WHAT ARE THEY REALLY LOOKING FOR?
 
Perfectionist said:
I remember years ago when WebCams first hit the market ..... they always had a Lens Cover ..... even my first high end CRT monitor which had a Camera built in had a slide door to cover the lens when not in use ..... why have suddenly these covers gone out of fashion ?? :eek:
Click to expand...

Wow, I've been involved with computers since TRS80s, Sinclairs, CVic 20's/64s, to 386's running a dumb terminal to an IBM mainframe, 486's etc, and I haven't seen one webcam with a lens cover. Maybe I'm missing out, but when they were commercially popular, I honestly don't remember getting a lens cover, and I still have a box of one in my attic that says "requires Win95" and the parts list didn't have a lens cover.

I also don't remember CRT's having built in cameras. Maybe 1 or 2 did for corporate video conferencing.

Maybe I missed something but I know I've gone through a ton of pc parts in my days.

Edit: I remember like 1 or 2 models that had 'flip' covers, but the majority of webcams I have bought/seen had no cover. I think creative labs had a ball that had a flip/slide lens cover but in my experience, lens covers weren't 'all the rage' so to speak.

/changechannel
 
kkat69 said:
Wow, I've been involved with computers since TRS80s, Sinclairs, CVic 20's/64s, to 386's running a dumb terminal to an IBM mainframe, 486's etc, and I haven't seen one webcam with a lens cover. Maybe I'm missing out, but when they were commercially popular, I honestly don't remember getting a lens cover, and I still have a box of one in my attic that says "requires Win95" and the parts list didn't have a lens cover.

I also don't remember CRT's having built in cameras. Maybe 1 or 2 did for corporate video conferencing.

Maybe I missed something but I know I've gone through a ton of pc parts in my days.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmmmm... denial... maybe you are one of.... THEM

<quickly adds to ignore list>


Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
Aren't the iSights hardwired in some way to ensure that the green light next to them will always come on in the camera is enabled? You'll always be able to tell if someone is spying on you.
 
umm there is but its not a cover its a little light the little green light is when the camera is in use so if the green thing is on be scared
 
MacDawg said:
Wow, dude, give me your Paypal account and I will just buy you one...
Click to expand...
Are you talking about an iPatch or a new 24" iMac ? :confused:

phakebrill said:
Easy. Cut out a small square of black sparky tape. No need for any iPatches.
Click to expand...
Great, so I spent 2 grand on a sexy as hell iMac ..... and then have to slap some crappy tape over it ! :p

doug in albq said:
You are from London and are complaining about cameras? Are there not about 4 million cams out on your streets?
Click to expand...
Yes there are ..... but none of them are in my home ! :eek:

I have asked this many times, an I will ask it again. WHAT ARE THEY REALLY LOOKING FOR?
Click to expand...
Elvis of course ..... I ain't letting them find out it's me ! ;)

kkat69 said:
Wow, I've been involved with computers since TRS80s, Sinclairs, CVic 20's/64s, to 386's running a dumb terminal to an IBM mainframe, 486's etc, and I haven't seen one webcam with a lens cover. Maybe I'm missing out, but when they were commercially popular, I honestly don't remember getting a lens cover, and I still have a box of one in my attic that says "requires Win95" and the parts list didn't have a lens cover.
Click to expand...
You were obviously in another "Cover-Less" Parallel Universe then bro ..... in this Universe they looked like this =

robot5.jpg


blurb23 said:
Aren't the iSights hardwired in some way to ensure that the green light next to them will always come on in the camera is enabled? You'll always be able to tell if someone is spying on you.
Click to expand...
Sure, and I bet you believed Iraq had WMD's too !! :D

I don't trust Hardwired LED's ..... I trust an undeniable physical barrier ! :)

jessica. said:
Why does this dude's post read like an advert?
Click to expand...
Because I am the dude that bought Remington, cos it shaved as close as a blade ..... I've now bought iPatch.com cos ..... errr, it also shaves as close as a blade ! :cool:

iMpathetic said:
I don't know, but closing it with :apple: sure is tacky. Wonder what he's up to? :p
Click to expand...
It was simply because I didn't want to use two of the same smileys ! :eek: Why, what do you think I am up to ? :apple:

Tallest Skil said:
Again, as you refused to acknowledge from me in your first thread
Click to expand...
Sorry, I didn't realise there had been a Law passed that forced me to acknowledge you ! :rolleyes:

THE LIGHT IS HARDWIRED TO THE CAMERA. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
Click to expand...
THAT IS WHAT STEVE WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE ! :(
 
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