Can someone with a built-in iSight camera (iMac, MacBook, or MBPro) tell me if you can turn off the camera somehow so that a general (non-administrator) user can't turn it on and use it?

My sister-in-law brought up a good point: she wouldn't buy a machine with a built-in camera that her kids could use unless she had control over the camera like that. It's definitely a safety and security issue with kids.

Thanks.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson

Good question! Try the Apple iSight Discussion. It may have been asked there.

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Ed (modelamac)

I think I will just put an OUT OF ORDER
sticker on my head and call it a day.

A method to get around the potential problem may be to install a router, and configure it to block appropriate ports.

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Ed (modelamac)

I think I will just put an OUT OF ORDER
sticker on my head and call it a day.

yeah, the router thing would work--except they're 400 miles from me and I'm their tech support.

I'll check Discussions. The support area didn't talk to it.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson

Elmo3, I could be just like you and RANT and RANT about searching the forum or the manufacturers web site. Google something. Calling someone stupid and dumb doesn't make you any smarter. By the way, where is your statue.

Now to help your sister-in-law and a switcher, tell her to check here.

[discussions.apple.com]

A little acetone on the lens ?

slbett,

I did.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson

You can certainly set up the kids' accounts such that they have no access to iChat and PhotoBooth.

You can also disable mail to prevent them from scanning (or transfering from a digital camera) photos and sending them.

You can disable internet access to prevent the same photos from being sent via a hotmail/gmail account.

It all depends on just what level of security vs functionality she wants.

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Embarassing myself on the Internet since 1978.

I think it's overkill to disable entire applications that *could* use iSight; you then eliminate the entire functionality of those applications.

I sent Apple feedback on this. It should be as easy as another checkbox in Parental Controls.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson

This Government security doc.:
[www.nsa.gov]

Which recommends removing this file.:
/System/Library/Extensions/Apple_iSight.kext

If you are the genius you say you are, you could write a small simple script to turn this off or on.
Finding this tip actually took about 45 seconds.

BGnR

Quote
elmo3
yeah, the router thing would work--except they're 400 miles from me and I'm their tech support.

I'll check Discussions. The support area didn't talk to it.

you should have them install Boscos Screen share so you can trouble shoot their mac from your home

free, and easy to install

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

No big deal.

Or, Apple could do it under the hood by putting the checkmark in the Parental Controls area which does the exact same thing.

By doing so, Apple creates a supported feature for newbie switchers.

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In the words of DharmaDog: "it may or may not be utter horse@#$%&, but it shouldn't be dismissed simply because it doesn't agree with your opinion."

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Trying is the first step to failure. -- Homer Simpson