If you cover your webcam and still uses facebook, instagram, tiktok and has a google account you are wasting your time
this post was submitted on 10 May 2025
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Unfortunately, tape can’t mute the microphones.
a microphone jack with a cut cable, if you insist
In our scenario we are thinking about someone trying to sneak on you. But a jack mic cut off is not removing the internal microphone just putting the source to a different one. So if this person has access to your PC he coule surely access other sensors than the cut off jack
Article does suggest a workaround for that too. Can't put everything into a headline.
Get a laptop with hardware switches for the camera and microphone, tbh
Got any examples? I found that Purism and Framework have them, are there others on the market right now?
Never seen one I'd actually trust for the mic, but I've seen a lot of Lenovos that have sliding covers for the camera.
I'm a little reluctant to put an adhesive slider on my MacBook because it closes pretty tight and I'm afraid the extra thickness would create a pressure point and cause damage over time.
@GenderNeutralBro @QuazarOmega
The thickness of the privacy slider may be a concern, yes, and you can buy an "ultra-thin" web cam cover to both avoid screen issues and maintain your privacy. I buy Cloud Valley covers on Amazon. A small paper sticky note on the cam does the trick too and thickness is not an issue. Good lick! :-)
BTW, I jist checked - my wife's MacBook Pro has a plastic slider on the cam and it closes perfectly - no pressure point issue at all.
I have a framework. I'm not aware of any others though. But I do remember that physical wifi switches were common on HPs back about 15-20 years ago.
It's rare for laptop to come with hardware switches for microphones but some of them are built with camera switches
Have seen a Dell Latitude 5400 (I think) with an hardware camera cover
When I saw Schmuckerberg using tape over the camera I knew we should all be doing that
My laptop has a build in camera cover that can be slid over the camera. I wonder if this is some sort of trick, like the cover is actually transparent from the inside.