Disabling camera on new iMAC

[exgarymac]

For security I want to disable the camera on my new iMAC 27 inch running Mojave.
I cannot find a setting.....have I missed one tucked away somewhere?

 

[MacInWin]

System Preferences>Security & Privacy>Privacy, uncheck or delete any and all apps that have access to the Camera. But anything you undo could be redone by malware, so if you really want security, get a Post-It kind of light sticky and put it over the camera, then when you want to use the camera, just take it off. Post-It flags like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LD0PFM/?tag=macforums0e4-20

work well and don't leave any residue behind.

 

[pigoo3]

...get a Post-It kind of light sticky and put it over the camera, then when you want to use the camera, just take it off.

My thoughts exactly Jake. Piece of tape...cheap...simple...and reliable.

- Nick

 

[ferrarr]

I usually, just fold a piece of paper, and hook it on top of the display.

 

[pigoo3]

That's a good one too Bob.

- Nick

 

[MacInWin]

Bob, I did that until I got tired of the paper falling off. I do move the MBP around and the Post-It sticks, even opening and closing the lid. But paper is free(er), so...

 

[pigoo3]

Bob, I did that until I got tired of the paper falling off.

I was thinking of that. Sudden breezes from an open window...home HVAC...a strong sneeze in the right direction...or a cat's tail!

- Nick

 

[usagora]

I have a small circle punch and punched out a circle of black electrical tape so it blends with the bezel. Works great and looks good too.

 

[pigoo3]

I have a small circle punch and punched out a circle of black electrical tape so it blends with the bezel. Works great and looks good too.

Fancy!

- Nick

 

[Rod]

Isn't there a little blue light that lets you know if your camera is active. Personally if my camera had been activated by something/someone I would want to know.

 

[pm-r]

Isn't there a little blue light that lets you know if your camera is active.

On my 2011 27" iMac it's a pretty bright green LED light that shines top center of my display when the builtin camera is enabled.

Pretty hard to miss I'd say.





- Patrick
======

 

[Rod]

Yeah, well personally I'd like to know if someone is watching me and although the idea of punching out a little circle of black tape appeals to my sense of order I wouldn't want to permanently disable the camera on my MBP as I use Facetime quite a lot with the grand kids and others.
This idea that someone could be spying on me through my laptop/desktop although possible seems a bit far fetched and paranoid to me. Still it is possible and it's not just your iSight Camera but your Microphone as well. Rather than disabling it I would suggest that you monitor it instead.
You can't do this natively but there is a third party free app that will let you do this called OverSight. https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html
You can "Whitelist" apps like Shazam or FaceTime and it monitors your Mic as well telling you what is using what and giving you the option to block.
It's compatible with Mojave and although I have it I'm seldom conscious of it.
More info about the developer here; https://www.patreon.com/objective_see

 

[Rod]

PS. I use Bartender, an extension which hides all of the menu bar icons I don't use much or need to access instantly. Like Bluetooth, WiFi, CCC etc. Oversight is one of them so now that I have "whitelisted' all of the apps I trust I never really look at it. In the beginning it notified me of everything that used the mic or iSight and as far as I can see it uses next to no resources although it does launch at startup which must draw some.

 

[MacInWin]

On my 2011 27" iMac it's a pretty bright green LED light that shines top center of my display when the builtin camera is enabled.

Pretty hard to miss I'd say.





- Patrick
======

I have the same green light. With the Post-It in place, here is what you would see:

 

[pm-r]

With the Post-It in place, here is what you would see:

Ahhh... yes... the old Silver Screen era view... Classic as well!!! ;D





- Patrick
======

 

[exgarymac]

Thanks everyone..........As always it is the simplest solutions which fix things. My lens is now covered.

 

[macgig]

I just taped a piece of paper over it. I want to see the green light if it comes on so I don't cover that up.

 

[pigoo3]

I want to see the green light if it comes on so I don't cover that up.

That way you know when someone is spying on you!

- Nick

 

[pm-r]

I just taped a piece of paper over it. I want to see the green light if it comes on so I don't cover that up.

That seems like a nice simple solution, but for those who don't like to mess up their Mac with a piece of sticky tape/post-mote they can use a software disabler to stop the camera from working.

The directions can be found here seeing that Apple didn't provide a disabling option:
How to disable your MacBook's iSight camera - No tape required.
https://www.macobserver.com/tips/macos-disable-webcam-mac/
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-disable-your-macbooks-isight-camera/





- Patrick
======

 

[ferrarr]

Does the light also notify you if the mic has been accessed?

It's one of the smaller reasons that I like my Mac mini. No camera or mic.