Do not cover your camera, Apple warned MacBook users: it could damage your screen.
Consumers should trust the green camera indicator light adjacent to their laptop’s camera, Apple told owners of MacBooks, MacBook Airs, and MacBook Pros this month. Putting a sticker, sticky note, or other cover in front of the camera impedes the computer’s ability to close and could break the screen.
A MacBook Pro owner’s internal screen was smashed after applying a webcam cover in April, MacRumors reported.
“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,” Apple wrote on its website. Camera covers can also interfere with the machine’s ambient light sensor and prevent features, including Apple’s Auto Brightness and True Tone technology from the Retina display, from working properly.
Camera light can be trusted, Apple said in its post: If the green light isn’t on, your camera isn’t either. Therefore, additional coverage, the company implies, is excessive.
Those looking for additional security for the camera light can go to their system preferences and manually configure which applications have access to the built-in camera of the computer.
Although Apple does not mention the possibility that digital privacy minded people do not trust its peace of mind, it does offer a possible route for those whose “work environment requires a camera cover at all times.” These people need to make sure that their camera cover is extremely thin, will not leave adhesive residue, and will remove it before shutting down their computer, Apple wrote.
Apple’s sudden post about the problem is likely due to numerous recent complaints from MacBook Pro owners, MacRumors wrote. Damage caused by the problem is an expensive solution, but it is considered accidental and is covered by AppleCare + insurance.
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