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Do you cover up the camera on your mobile devices

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No (Score: 1, Interesting)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-09-08 15:57 (#1T2R5)

Because I actually take video and use video chatting apps and I have yet to find a cover that's convenient and will work with my choice of phone case. (It was a gift, I love it. I'm not changing cases if the new one doesn't offer a significant advantage.)

Besides, the microphone scares me more. No one's going to blink if some idiot hacks photos of me staring at my phone in the bathroom. If they hear me say the wrong thing, though, I could lose my job.

So far the only real security I've seen was an idea pitched for a phone case which alerted the user if the phone became untrustworthy and started sending signals without permission. AFAIK that idea has not yet become reality.

Anybody got a pitch for something that blocks the phone's mic AND camera?

Re: No (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2016-09-10 00:20 (#1T805)

I think you're after a Faraday bag. I can't imagine an external device that would be able to work out the difference between desired and undesired signals from your phone.

Re: No (Score: 3, Informative)

by kerrany@pipedot.org on 2016-09-14 14:17 (#1TQES)

Just in time for early Christmas present ordering:

Silent Pocket Faraday Cage Sleeves - http://www.thinkgeek.com/jlsn/

"The patented Radio Frequency shield in the phone and tablet sleeves effectively blocks all wireless, cellular, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, RFID, and NFC signals in all frequencies. And there's an alternate internal side, which shields only against RFID and NFC (so you can protect yourself from hacking on those frequencies, without missing a phone call or text)."

And, I found the article I was thinking of when I posted the original question (I was the above AC). I read the Schneier on Security blurb, but here's one of the articles it linked to with more info. (The headline annoys me by assigning all the credit to Snowden, but at least they acknowledge Huang's work in the body.)

https://www.wired.com/2016/07/snowden-designs-device-warn-iphones-radio-snitches/

It looks like it requires modification - wiring things directly to the phone's circuit board via the SIM slot - and it's only a prototype. Still cool though. Especially since, "Faraday bags can still leak radio information," according to the article.

Moderation

Time Reason Points Voter
2016-09-14 20:51 Informative +1 bryan@pipedot.org
2016-11-01 22:18 Interesting +1 chocolateteacup@pipedot.org

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