It has become a reflex taken up even by big tech bosses like Mark Zuckerberg: many people cover their computer’s webcam. And for good reason: it regularly happens that hackers, sometimes supported by a State, manage to access the webcam of their victim. Sometimes without even triggering the lighting of the indicator light.
The latter then only have to wait for the computer, which many users do not hesitate to use in the bedroom, to witness something compromising. For example a visit to adult sites with all that follows. Hackers can then confront their victim with a video while threatening to distribute the document to their contacts (relatives, employer, etc.).
Why hiding the webcam can damage your Mac
In general, it is then a question of extorting the money from the target. Several anti-virus programs offer specific webcam protection in Windows. But nothing like it exists on Mac. More generally, users tend to buy one of the many accessories to physically hide their computer’s webcam. The latter seems more secure than any alternative and makes it easier to check that the webcam is inaccessible at a glance.
But these caches are not without causing problems on Macs – which leads Apple to advise against their use. Indeed, the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are all designed with very low machining tolerances. These are very high-end computers, on which the accent is placed on the finesse of the design. However, many users report that these accessories damage the glass that covers the screen of Macs as well as the trackpad.
Ultimately, those affected find themselves having to pay for costly repairs, including in the case of devices covered by AppleCare+. As you can imagine, the cost of the intervention greatly exceeds that of the small caches for webcam that can be found everywhere on the web. Especially since on all Macs sold since 2008 it is impossible to activate the webcam without the LED lighting up.
Hiding the webcam is not essential on Mac
Indeed this LED is on the same circuit as the sensor of the webcam. As soon as the latter is requested, and it is supplied with electricity, the circuit is closed and the small green LED can therefore only light up (note however that hacking the webcam without lighting the LED remains possible on Macs older than 2008). Even if you fear a hack (unlikely, or if not quite easily detectable) of your webcam, there are better alternatives.
First, you can rather trust the security of macOS, especially if you have a good antivirus program. The Mac operating system has options to reduce the number of applications allowed to activate the webcam to a small selection. To do this, simply go to the settings, then Privacy and Security > Camera. From there you can prohibit certain applications from using the accessory.
Learn more about Intego, best antivirus on Mac
To be sure not to miss any unexpected activation of the webcam, tools such as the OverSight application can accompany the lighting of the green LED with an alert. Finally, if you really don’t trust any software solution, you can simply use your Mac with an external screen, in clamshell (laptop screen closed).
