Apple: Privacy cover for your MacBook camera can damage the display
If you’re worried about potential spying, then you may have resorted to covering up your laptop’s web camera. It’s a tip even the FBI recommends.
Just try not to do it on a MacBook, so says Apple. The company has created an official support document about the dangers of closing the laptop when the web camera has been covered up. Apparently, doing so can break down the display.
“If you close your Mac notebook with a camera cover installed, you might damage your display because the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances,” reads the support document, which was first spotted by MacRumors.
“Covering the built-in camera might also interfere with the ambient light sensor and prevent features like automatic brightness and True Tone from working,” the page goes on to say.
The guidance was published on July 2 and applies to anyone who owns a MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
So what’s the recommended alternative? Ideally, don't buy a privacy cover. Apple says customers should instead rely on the green indicator light next to the camera to tell when it’s on or not. “The camera is engineered so that it can’t activate without the camera indicator light also turning on. This is how you can tell if your camera is on,” the page says.
In other words, Apple wants you to trust that no one will be able to circumvent its protections, even as past security research has uncovered macOS malware capable of taking screen captures. For instance, the “Fruitfly” malware circulated for years with the apparent ability to secretly hijack a Mac's web camera.
Still, if you really need to place a covering, the company advises you make it no thicker than a piece of paper at 0.1mm. “Avoid using a camera cover that leaves adhesive residue,” Apple adds, which is probably a nod to scotch tape. The other solution is to place the covering, but only when your laptop is open.
MacRumors points out that some MacBook owners have, indeed, damaged their laptops after placing a covering over the web camera. So be careful; it’s probably best to avoid using a covering that’s made out of hard plastic.
(责任编辑:新闻中心)
- Pressure boost squeezes out more hydrogen from artificial leaves
- Bluesky Social is now in the App Store
- Twitter layoffs: Elon Musk cuts dozens of jobs, yet again shrinking the company
- 在“联包帮”大院督查指导全国文明城市创建工作
- Supercritical geothermal power: Limitless promise or impossible dream?
- Fans to vote on fate of Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro
- Bing AI chatbot says it lets you fine
- Finau feeling ‘good vibes’
- Speeding space object triggered a warning. It wasn't an asteroid.
- US says it is seeking diplomacy over North Korea's missile launches
- Flurry of reports of suspicious int'l parcels received in S. Korea
- Swiatek looks ahead to Wimbledon with opening win
- North Korea says it conducted important test to develop multiple warhead missile
- Fountain Of Youth Found On Easter Island?
- Sports minister says audits into football, badminton federations set to conclude in Sept.
- Twitter welcomes everyone to Twitter as it goes down
- Twitter welcomes everyone to Twitter as it goes down
- CONCACAF suspends four players
- I Deleted All My Social Accounts: Three Weeks Without Social Media
- Apple aims to clean up its supply chain with new renewable energy goals