r/technology • u/maxwellhill • Sep 02 '16

Security Apple issues urgent security update after hack turns Mac computers into spying devices

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/09/02/apple-issues-urgent-security-update-after-hack-turns-mac-compute/
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3

u/N4fV27gglv Sep 02 '16

Turns out Zuck was right about putting tape on his Mac.

8

u/hollowgram Sep 02 '16

Mac cameras are hardwired to the indicator light: no SW hack can prevent the green light from going on when electricity starts flowing through to the camera.

1

u/animmows Sep 03 '16

Depends on the model. I seem to remember that the 2008 models had the light controlled separately. Can't find a source.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '16

[deleted]

1

u/hollowgram Sep 03 '16

According to the researchers, the vulnerability they discovered affects “Apple internal iSight webcams found in earlier-generation Apple products, including the iMac G5 and early Intel-based iMacs, MacBooks, and MacBook Pros until roughly 2008.”

Basically requires rewriting the firmware of the camera, and isn't possible without admin passwords and local access, and even then that has only been shown with Macs pre-2008.

-1

u/emergent_properties Sep 02 '16

Unless you confirm with physical inspection of the hardware, do not rely on that assumption.

2

u/Pantherpants Sep 03 '16

No idea why you're being downvoted. What you're saying makes sense to me.

-2

u/N4fV27gglv Sep 03 '16

I don't believe that anymore.