Mark Zuckerberg was seen covering the camera on his own laptop, to prevent unwanted eyes from looking at him, but Apple isn’t as keen on the idea.
The tech giant this week warned users not to close MacBook laptops with a lid over the camera, MacRumors reported.
The company said doing so can damage the screen and can also interfere with the sensors built into the computer.
The statement comes after complaints from users on Reddit and other platforms that their devices have been broken after applying the webcam covers for privacy reasons.
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Apple said: “If you close your Mac laptop with a camera cover installed, it could damage your screen because the separation between the screen and the keyboard is designed for very tight tolerances.
Covering the built-in camera could also interfere with the ambient light sensor and prevent features like Auto Brightness and True Tone from working.
“As an alternative to the camera cover, use the camera indicator light to determine if your camera is active and to decide which applications can use your camera in System Preferences.”
The cameras on Apple’s laptops are designed so that they cannot be accessed without the green light “on,” MacRumors reported.
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A tech repair expert told ZDNet that more users have been putting tape on cameras because the pandemic has led to more people working from home.
Putting tape or a cover over a webcam means that even if hackers gain access to a device, they still can’t see you.
Malware, like remote access Trojans, can provide cyber criminals with unrestricted access to a device, including the webcam.
Many security experts advise users to cover their webcams to protect their privacy.
Then-FBI Director James Comey said in 2014: “I think people should take personal responsibility for their own safety.” So there are some sensible things that you should be doing that [covering the webcam] It is one of them.
“You go into any government office, we all have our little cameras that are located at the top of the screen. They all have a small lid that closes on them. You do it so that people without authority do not look at you. I think it’s a good thing. “
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Apple has delayed mass production of new iPhone phones, but is still unveiling four new models this year, according to supply chain sources.
A Wall Street Journal report suggested that Apple will launch four new iPhones this year, armed with 5G connectivity for a faster Internet.
The delay comes as a result of the coronavirus-related closures at Apple factories, the WSJ reported.
Apple’s largest iPhone plant was hit by restrictions imposed on Chinese workers earlier this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Apple supplier Foxconn’s factory in Zhengzhou in Henan province, with 200,000 workers, excluded workers from outside the local area.
