I'm way more concerned about the data on my laptop then whatever may be available through the camera or microphone.
Dell Adding Hardware Privacy Driver For Linux
Collapse
X
-
Originally posted by Old Grouch View Post
Tappity-tappity...tappity-tappity. <Send>.
Done (I asked for a pony too).
As a matter of interest, why do you think it is unreasonable to ask for such things, which enable improved user privacy and control?
I was kidding, I find your requests to be really interesting. I agree that they will provide a more robust security.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by schmidtbag View PostIf it can be controlled through software, it ain't secure enough.
What I dont get is why a killswitch by software is needed for a microphone.
There is almost nothing easier then just put a switch between the capacitor microphone and the board. Maybe it needs to be figured out how to reduce some parasitic induct/cap of the switch but it is fool proofed and can not be hacked. Maybe one has not a shiny GUI indicator in the os but well would be the most secure one.
OT.: the first thing I did when I have recieved an Amazon Prime stick with the newer Alexa remote. I dont trust them with the software mute so I have opened the remote located the mic and treated it with my pliers. But I have to tell you they really try hard to not let you open that remote. Everything glued and onetimeclipped. However Pliers won.
What I fear for the future is: Small ceramic or film capacitors are microphonic - means vibration will alter the capacitance so they act like a capacitor microphone. If you are a skilled Amazon/Google engineer (and they are) it might be possible to filter some Voltage ripples over the whole board to pick up noises from the environment.Last edited by CochainComplex; 04 November 2020, 09:51 AM.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by CochainComplex View Postit might be possible to filter some Voltage ripples over the whole board to pick up noises from the environment.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by kpedersen View Post
Didn't they do a similar proof of concept using the hard disk as a microphone by detecting small changes via the heads? Can't quite find the article. It was either IEEE Spectrum or The Register.
found it: But I was always wondering - fake or real.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by Old Grouch View PostI don't want a 'privacy button'. I want a switch that disconnects the power and data connections to the camera and a separate switch for the microphone. Preferably with a transparent cover so I can see the connections are discontinuous. It's fine if the PC can sense the state of the hardware switch, but the hardware disconnector should not be under software control. And while we are adding some switches, I'd like a hardware switch to disable writing firmware.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by kpedersen View Post
Didn't they do a similar proof of concept using the hard disk as a microphone by detecting small changes via the heads? Can't quite find the article. It was either IEEE Spectrum or The Register.
DiskFiltration: Data Exfiltration from Speakerless Air-Gapped Computers via Covert Hard Drive Noise
Edited to correct.
The above is wrong: it refers to the use of the Hard Disk to exfiltrate information as a kind of audio transmitter, not receiver.
The previous writer (kpedersen) was correct in referring to an IEEE paper
IEEE: Hard Drive of Hearing: Disks that Eavesdrop with a Synthesized Microphone ( DOI: 10.1109/SP.2019.00008 )
Nonetheless, the Ben Gurion Cyber Security Research group do some interesting stuff.
Last edited by Old Grouch; 04 November 2020, 10:27 AM.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by CochainComplex View PostSome newer Dell Notebooks (e.g. Precision 74XX) have a mechanical slider over the builtin webcam - at least the cam is then blocked by a physical piece of plastics.
What I fear for the future is: Small ceramic or film capacitors are microphonic - means vibration will alter the capacitance so they act like a capacitor microphone. If you are a skilled Amazon/Google engineer (and they are) it might be possible to filter some Voltage ripples over the whole board to pick up noises from the environment.
If I cared about Google and Amazon collecting my info, watching me, and listening to me (which I don't) then the best thing to do is to simply avoid their services (which for the most part, I do).
Comment
-
Comment