Study proves that you can secretly hijack an older Mac's webcam

[Youbetternot]

A pair of Johns Hopkins researchers has just found out a way to hack old mac webcams without flipping the light on. What they did was make a app called iSeeYou which reprograms a controller chip on pre-2009 Macs to separate the camera and LED functions, thus users can just flip the switch off or on anytime. Apple knows about this and has not fixed the issue yet, which means macs now can also be targeted. Only Apple!

 

If you believe common wisdom, it shouldn't be possible to take over most webcams without alerting users. The indicator LED is supposed to be hack-proof, after all. However, a pair of Johns Hopkins researchers have recently published aresearch paper showing that it's possible to control the camera while keeping the indicator dark. Their proof-of-concept app, iSeeYou, reprograms a controller chip on pre-2009 Macs to separate the camera and LED functions; users can flick the light on and off like a switch. Apple is aware of the issue with its own systems, but it hasn't said whether or not there will be a fix. It's also unclear how many newer Macs or other PCs are at risk.

 

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/18/study-proves-that-you-can-secretly-hijack-an-older-mac-webcam/

[Mooshi]

The real question is why would anyone want to waste their time hijacking a hipsters iFruit box?

[TheRuke]

Cool. Too bad everyone has the new "Swag".

[Tmh85]

I smoked weed with a guy named John Hopkins! (Step brothers reference)

[miyabwah]

My school has Macs.... Peter files.

[xRAGExSounDxRIOTX]

I have an '05 Mac. I don't have it plugged in though.

[xRAGExSounDxRIOTX]

My school has Macs.... Peter files.

My school has Windows XP PC's in most of the comp. labs. I think I beat you.

[ajoy39]

The real question is why would anyone want to waste their time hijacking a hipsters iFruit box?

because the fact that you supposedly coudln't turn the camera on without turning on the LED was marketed as a security feature. 

[qwertywarrior]

u can do what every one does

sticker on the webcam

[dark-D]

you can highjack any kind of webcam. that's why some business monitors with webcams have a shutter with a physical button on them.

[LogicDeifying]

My school has Windows XP PC's in most of the comp. labs. I think I beat you.

My school all has W7.wrecked

[beebskadoo]

I smoked weed with a guy named John Hopkins! (Step brothers reference)

It's ok, I got the reference.

[Snickerzz]

My school all has W7.wrecked

same here W7 on comps with C2Ds, 1gb ram and 15in widescreen 720p monitors

[LogicDeifying]

same here W7 on comps with C2Ds, 1gb ram and 15in widescreen 720p monitors

Laptop?Cause we have i3 sandy bridge 4gb ram and some IGPU but it's a mother computer.

[beebskadoo]

This is similar to the guy that was able to insert his own firmware into the Macbook's battery controller, causing it to do his bidding. Overheating or shutting off or whatever. This is another interesting thing about Apple's walled garden and marriage of hardware and software, it can allow for easy targeting of their hardware. Each Macbook uses the same controllers for the most part, so if an exploit can be found and implemented, it can be done so easily on a massive scale. This would be more evident if Apple had a decent marketshare in then PC world.

[Snickerzz]

Laptop?Cause we have i3 sandy bridge 4gb ram and some IGPU but it's a mother computer.

desktops

[LogicDeifying]

desktops

Oh but their individual PCs right.

[Snickerzz]

Oh but their individual PCs right.

yea we have like 4 computer labs each with some 20 comps in them

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

My school rolls out MacBook Airs (it is a very expensive school) and they suck

[LogicDeifying]

yea we have like 4 computer labs each with some 20 comps in them

Cool stuff.

[Snickerzz]

My school rolls out MacBook Airs (it is a very expensive school) and they suck

Mine handed out a 3rd gen ipad to all students and teachers and teachers also got macbook airs