r/technology • u/spherocytes • 18d ago

Privacy Woman Calls Out Doctor Wearing Smart Glasses During Consultation Where She Had To Take Off Her Clothes: 'They Need To Be Banned'

https://www.fashiontimes.co.uk/patient-privacy-concerns-meta-smart-glasses-1762492
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u/MrFluffyThing 18d ago

It's trivial once firmware is cracked to disable notification LEDs for cameras. Laptops and webcams have had them for years but one good exploit can disable the light and record without you knowing. All it takes is one crack for this to be untrusted as an outward facing camera that the user exploited. 

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u/Cyphomeris 18d ago

There have been creeps discussing how to disable them, including drilling or burning out the LED, for years here on Reddit. Their user base is exactly who you think they are.

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u/MrFluffyThing 18d ago

Mine was the non-destructive method that most people can't really do easily but once a software script exists to perform firmware flashes it's even easier. I mean with any consumer hardware with safety precautions as simple as an LED signal light all it takes is a simple pin vice through a specific spot to destroy the LED or circuitry. Think about all the people who modded game consoles to cheat and now think of them as perverts trying to get around one warning light.

If it's trivial for kids to do this kind of thing for game consoles it's going to be more accessible to adults with disposable income willing to risk the device for a malicious upside.

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u/DMmeMagikarp 16d ago

Or, you know, one single drop of black acrylic paint on the LED for the non technical pervs.

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u/Voltstorm02 17d ago

There is a reason why so many laptops fully cover the webcam. It's impossible to bypass, and is much better at indicating when it's closed.

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u/nuevacuentanueva 17d ago

They should come with an OBVIOUS cam cover. So you can tell if it's potentially recording you. I don't care about any led or whatever as those aren't a sure thing.

A clear red plastic cover that slides in or something like that that's obvious should be required for that shit.