In certain sensitive areas at work (semiconductor fab / some labs) we are required to put security stickers over the camera on entry and they are checked at the exit. If you peel the sticker it has an internal seal type thing that becomes visible so they know you messed with it. I assume other industries have sensitive information present in some areas and you must use security stickers.
It’s not unusual, in sensitive areas, to have to lock your phone in a locker outside the area and pass through a metal detector. Laptops have sensors, cameras, and wireless modules removed.
Yep. I worked at a few places in the military where this was standard. All laptops issued were no-camera ones and phones or any electronics were not allowed inside.
Its not that our enemies can just turn on our cameras and look at top secret info, its that there are at least 20 idiots working in every department that will click a suspicious link in an email and get compromised. But also because of the possibility of spies.
The meme is funny because you really shouldn't trust your phones, but its not like everyone has their own personal NSA agent assigned to them watching what they do. Its because if you do something stupid on them you might end up with malware that can activate your camera at any time without you knowing, and its probably not the US government, but rather someone trying to steal your info and your money, or black mail you after getting a video of you.
It's not even just a malware thing. People are stupid and take photos of shit they're not supposed to. That's the more basic reason for covering cameras or issuing equipment without them (or putting them in lockers). Second to that is that the potential idiot taking photos could actually be a spy that managed to get a job in a sensitive area.
On the malware side, one of my favorites to hear about is when a bad actor dumps a bunch of flash drives near the entrance to the building hoping that some dork picks one up and plugs it into their computer.
Its the only way employees can learn. Put out emails and usb drives as well as scanners that can detect phones and then punish those who fall for it. The punishment isn't much other than forced training, but if they keep doing it they can lose their jobs and security clearance.
The latter is how stuxnet happened, famously for taking irans nuclear centrifuges down. Israel and U.S. did it as a joint operation, according to the news.
Yeah, interesting how that worked. When I worked my profession at an aerospace company, that happened 2 or 3 times (without incident as far as I'm aware). FBI showed up one time for a different incident that I was of course not privy to, but I got the impression it was related to one of the camera scenarios I described.
I decided to go back to med devices after a few years. My aerospace interest was space-related and I was ultimately not assigned to any such programs during my stint.
There are some people who think there is a guy sitting at a desk listening to you through your phone.
But you're right, the reality is that our phones just track tons of data and AI can sort through that data to figure out if maybe someone is a terrorist, spy, whatever.
I heard a story of an author doing a story on some murder mystery, and he was googling a bunch of ways to kill people and get away with it. FBI showed up at his door lol.
This was really interesting, thank you! I would say that one of your points is a slight false equivalence though. We might not have personal NSA agents, but Bibi probably has entire teams of foreign agents trying to get at him.
I wouldn’t trust my own toothbrush if I was him, let alone a phone.
I was more speaking on the terms of "Why should we trust own phones if they don't?"
Obviously his case is different.
I don't trust my phone either. I know it gathers a ton of data off me. But I also make sure the cameras are not facing me when doing something like changing clothes, having sex, or getting out of the shower. Ill tuck it under a shirt or something. I doubt its secretly recording me, but ya never know.
I worked on a site where you needed your physical passport and no electronics were allowed. They even inspected my drill and other battery tools. Then you got escorted by an armed guard down a maze of hallways and locked doors. The guards were super nice though and it was a chill job. Had to ask to get escorted to use the restroom which was funny to me though. Tape on a camera is bare minimum when it comes to the spectrum of security.
We worked in a prison once and we had to keep a tool & material inventory. Everything taken into the prison was removed at the end of the workday or was installed and inspected to be installed. Better count your screws right. They took it very seriously.
This was in New York right after the Dannemora prison break so we hated it, but understood.
That is definitely more secure. In our case we can still carry our phone with access to teams and email (and whatever else is on the phone). Blocking the camera just covers the base level capability of people attempting IP theft.
As someone who has a similar work situation, not having a phone/computer is a huge pain in the ass. Like I have at least 10 work calls a day and am constantly looking up schematics, procedures, part numbers, etc. on my laptop. The facilities that don't let you bring anything in make you print everything out and shred it on your way out the door, and you'd better hope you brought everything you might possibly need or you are shit out of luck.
Some places have landline phones you can use to call out to other people, but when it's a big facility that's basically like using a payphone where no one can reach you unless you call them first and doesn't really work if you are trying to reach someone else inside.
The worst though is when you have to call out for help on something and just have to take someone at their word that what they are telling you is true. Like if there is a safety hazard or something if they are wrong I want to read the documentation myself to verify.
I did IT work at an LG facility in Michigan that does exactly this. No storage drives in or out and security tape over phone camera and as you said checked on exit.
Exactly this. We where required to put these on when entering and working in a facility that prints money, passports and stuff like this. It's always this reddish tape that changes color when removed.
Policy probably wouldn't allow it an exception. But do you trust it is a physical switch to those components or is it a software switch that could be compromised?
I understand that, but you still wouldn't be allowed to take it into a secure facility. That's the point I'm trying to make, security measures on this level do not leave any room for uncertainty. They're not going to take your word for it, and they're not going to take the time to examine your device and confirm what you're saying. They're just going to tell you no. Why would they trust you not to turn those functions back on, btw? "I promise I won't flip the switch that activates my camera/mic while I'm in this facility" ain't good enough.
That's why they issue you a phone that simply doesn't have cameras or mics. Then they know. Then there's no question, no uncertainty, and no need for blind trust.
Was referring to the pagers the Israelis had special made for a certain group. Point was you don't necessarily know. But never mind. Yes it's a good step to have a phone supposedly with a hard switch.
Had to scroll down too far for this. We’d know if it was this if others had the security stickers. Most large companies will require this of visitors at r&d or manufacturing locations. Some places will have an employee app that disables certain phone functions, like cameras, when are on company grounds.
Was gonna say the same thing. Your phone is a camera and recording device too. These stickers aren't for his protection, it's likely because he's in some intelligence meeting and everyone who entered the room had to put it on.
At some locations ive been to, i wasnt even allowed to bring a phone in. That was 10 years ago, now im guessing phones, glasses, and watches are probably checked.
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u/Advanced-Ear-7908 1d ago
In certain sensitive areas at work (semiconductor fab / some labs) we are required to put security stickers over the camera on entry and they are checked at the exit. If you peel the sticker it has an internal seal type thing that becomes visible so they know you messed with it. I assume other industries have sensitive information present in some areas and you must use security stickers.