FBI can secretly turn on laptop cameras without the indicator light

[Newsjock]

http://gizmodo.com/fbi-can-secretly-activate-laptop-cameras-without-the-in-1478371370

Scary. Insane. Ridiculous. Invasive. Wrong. The Washington Post reports that the FBI has had the ability to secretly activate a computer's camera "without triggering the light that lets users know it is recording" for years now. What in the hell is going on? What kind of world do we live in?

Marcus Thomas, the former assistant director of the FBI's Operational Technology Division, told the Post that that sort of creepy spy laptop recording is "mainly" used in terrorism cases or the "most serious" of criminal investigations. That doesn't really make it less crazy (or any better) since the very idea of the FBI being able to watch you through your computer is absolutely disturbing.

[hr]
From the Post report:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/fbis-search-for-mo-suspect-in-bomb-threats-highlights-use-of-malware-for-surveillance/2013/12/06/352ba174-5397-11e3-9e2c-e1d01116fd98_story_2.html

The FBI has been able to covertly activate a computer’s camera — without triggering the light that lets users know it is recording — for several years, and has used that technique mainly in terrorism cases or the most serious criminal investigations, said Marcus Thomas, former assistant director of the FBI’s Operational Technology Division in Quantico, now on the advisory board of Subsentio, a firm that helps telecommunications carriers comply with federal wiretap statutes.

[2naSalit]

2. Everyone and everything else.

First thing I do when I get a new computer is take the damned lens out, before I plug the thing in or start it up, then put three layers of electrical tape over the hole. And I cover the mic up with a lot of stuff too. I have no use for these features so I make sure they aren't functional so nobody else can use them either.

To remove the lens, just use a piece of duct tape and place it on the lens then pull the tape off, the lens will come out, might take more than one try but that's how I do it.

[freshwest]

31. So do I, I also mute the input mikes. You can tell it's picking up sound. While I'm online, or if I

used Wi-Fi - which I resist - it's not that hard to listen or view. I go to the program for input and designate the option for plug in hard wire mikes only.

The 'everyone wants to video chat online' sales pitch that put them in all computers didn't work with me. I never allow it, because it's invasive.

And the FBI, NSA bogeyman ain't the one who is doing this by themselves - voyeurs do it all the time, even set up sites to catch and record unwitting people who don't realize they're broadcasting every single thing and sound in the vicinity of the computer to the world wide net. We used to call the internet the world's biggest 'telephone party line,' as anyone can listen in.

The 'big bad gubermint' spiel is just to get the headlines. This has been known for years, even gone through criminal courts, and school districts have had to tell their students to cover the cam. Because students were being victimized by voyeurs while doing their homework.

A lot that can be snagged from being online. Address, name, etc. through the various websites that a freak can get into.

And the light isn't significant, my computers never had a light to show they were videoing me, they just did it. So I put a stop to it.

[TexasProgresive]

4. Maybe a bored agent

or two decide to kill time watching your daughter undress.

[okaawhatever]

3. I would be okay with it if the warrants could only be used for very strict purposes like child

abduction, child sexual abuse and trafficking, and kidnapping/torture. Something that is very time sensitive and especially egregious. I'd say terrorism only if the individual isn't an American citizen or if there is already proof they are a terrorist or planning an attack.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Not just the FBI.

I understand that hackers, in general, can do the same thing. One can always put a piece of tape over the camera. Remove it when you wish to Skype.

[Kahuna]

9. I always assumed that hackers could do it. If hackers can do it..

of course the feds can too.

[Jesus Malverde]

6. and your phone camera and audio

[Cleita]

7. Hmmm! How about putting up a poster in front of your laptop, when not in use,

of that part of the Constitution that's about illegal searches and seizures as a friendly reminder. This would be for those who have a suspicion they might be being surveilled.

[RC]

13. Anymore that would probably get your door kicked in at 3AM for being a subversive*.

*not being intimidated enough. How dare you know your Rights!
They want to see you getting ready for bed, damn it.

[Vashta Nerada]

8. I put electrical tape over my laptop camera.

I wish I could buy a decent laptop without a camera. I find them pointless. I have never used one and I will never need to. If I want to skype or something like that, I can do that on my cell phone.

[XemaSab]

15. I have a band-aid on mine

[grahamhgreen]

39. Sticky part of a post it note

[Initech]

10. I always uninstall or disable the laptop camera drivers.

[darkangel218]

11. So they have seen me naked. lol

[NBachers]

14. I don't think there would be many more "stealth visits" if that happened in my house.

Serve's 'em right.

[freshwest]

33. Wait til they get a load of Uncle Festus...

[northoftheborder]

12. My camera lens is taped over. I use skype without it, just the microphone.

[Lint Head]

16. Masking tape is your friend.

[KoKo]

17. We cover ours with "Post-It Notes."

After I first read about it.

[BelgianMadCow]

18. Ditto

but because I'm not impolite: Agent Mike.

[City Lights]

22. Same here.

[FarCenter]

20. Same goes for desktops, pads, and smartphones.

They all may have cameras attached that can be activated remotely.

It is easy to block the camera with an opaque tape, piece of paper, etc. Back in the early '90s I used to tape a 3x5 note card above the camera and then flip it done when I was done videoconferencing.

Microphones are harder to disable unless you actually disassemble the device and put in a real hardware switch or connector that you can disconnect. Best to put the device in a soundproof container.

The FBI is usually not the biggest threat. Spyware is available commercially.

[hobbit709]

21. Good luck on mine

I uninstalled the driver and put a piece of duct tape over the lens.

[Walk away]

23. If that were true I would be serving Federal time for.....

Crazy Hair and failure to dust and vacuum my office. I hope they plan on sending an agent over to deal with this cruddy coffee cup collection!

[NuclearDem]

24. And after turning on mine, several agents are in therapy.

[Matariki]

25. I've been really disturbed by the trend toward front facing cameras

on cellphones and tablets.

It might not just be the FBI & "serious criminal investigations". It could just as easily be corporations data gathering and consumer conditioning.

[dionysus]

36. all you said is true but people also want front facing cameras for video chat type stuff.

[K.O. Stradivarius]

26. Do any AV/Malware detection vendors have the spine

to include updates to their software to detect any of these government or law enforcement exploits?

[Coyotl]

27. In other words, so can stalkers!

I keep my camera lens covered at all times, but the microphone still works.

[mockmonkey]

28. heh

The jokes on them, my camera light doesn't work.

[indepat]

29. We can go to sleep knowing the FBI only activates our laptop cameras in terraism cases or the most

serious criminal cases, and then only with a warrant issued for probable cause. Even with a warrant, we all know/highly suspect almost all warrants get issued no matter how valid the probable cause. I, for one, suspect the FBI has been turning on laptop cameras as willy-nilly as names are added to the no-fly list. Probable cause, my ass.

[dipsydoodle]

30. A Band-Aid is your friend.

[Skip Intro]

32. Somewhere, somebody needs to apologize to a CTer. n/t

[Paulie]

34. Nothing new. They got the software from private industry who enabled rental companies and schools

http://arstechnica.com/security/2012/12/how-spyware-on-rental-pcs-captured-users-most-intimate-moments/

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/02/fbi-grand-jury-now-probing-high-school-webcam-spying/

[Silent3]

35. Notice the article simply says "a computer's camera" -- nothing about particular makes, models, etc.

Last edited Sun Dec 8, 2013, 10:08 AM - Edit history (1)

I'd be willing to believe that this is possible, and has been done, for some cameras on some computers, but it's incredibly unlikely to be all of them. There would have to be a wide range of different hacks for different OS/computer model/camera combinations, not one single magic solution.

The very fact that they article doesn't mention this leads me to suspect that a very limited hack or set of hacks is, by the power of stupid, shallow reporting, being blown up into a mythic, unquestioned general and universal capability.

It would be trivially easy to wire a camera's LED directly to the very power line that powers the camera, making such a hack impossible. That would in fact be the cheapest, easiest way to hook up the LED, so I'd expect that many camera's are not susceptible to such hacking -- regardless of how much the paranoid mind thinks that the Powers That Be and mad computer geniuses can hack anything.

If you're going to get paranoid, why not assume they can hack some special, secret camera mode that can see through any tape you stick over the camera lens too?

[dionysus]

38. that's crazy talk, man. big brother is videotaping everything we do!

[dionysus]

37. i'm behind the times because i never had a PC with a camera or mic in it.

good for me I guess?