Post by mirraju on Feb 19, 2024 22:48:37 GMT -5
Dell is adding new code in the Linux kernel that lets you disable the webcam and microphone on a Dell system with keyboard shortcuts. Why? Because privacy. Privacy is no longer a luxury. This has become a basic necessity. Niche privacy-focused devices like the Librem Series Notebook offer a hardware key to block the webcam, microphone, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Dell will also provide hardware switches in the form of keyboard sets in 2021. It implements a kill switch at the kernel level, thus allowing you to disable the webcam and microphone with a keyboard shortcut.
Dell adds hardware privacy India Telegram Number Data driver to Linux kernel Dell privacy drivers In the Linux kernel patch , Dell revealed its privacy driver that protects users from the hardware level of sound and camera privacy. After enabling audio or camera privacy mode, all apps will not receive any audio or video streams. With the keyboard key Ctrl + F4, the audio privacy mode is activated, and the mute button for the camera is Ctrl + F9. Why is this important? Is Linux so insecure that someone can remotely access your webcam? This is an obvious question and I would like to clarify a few things on the subject. We live in a connected world using the internet through a variety of applications. Although your operating system may be inherently secure, there may be some level of intrusion at the application level.
Browser extensions are used to steal data . Imagine a rogue browser extension with access to your webcam or microphone? Therefore, disabling access to the webcam, microphone, etc. at the hardware level is a better option. New privacy drivers from Dell enable this feature. As Fronix pointed out , there are also indications that Dell is working on a 'privacy screen' in front of the privacy driver. The privacy screen reduces the horizontal/vertical viewing angles of the screen so that viewers cannot see your screen content clearly. When is the Dell Privacy Driver available? Will it be for everyone? There is no deadline as things are evolving. Note that this is a Dell specific solution and they will introduce this in their new models in 2021. Although I think it should be available for any Dell device since it's included in the Linux kernel, but I can't confirm that.
Dell adds hardware privacy India Telegram Number Data driver to Linux kernel Dell privacy drivers In the Linux kernel patch , Dell revealed its privacy driver that protects users from the hardware level of sound and camera privacy. After enabling audio or camera privacy mode, all apps will not receive any audio or video streams. With the keyboard key Ctrl + F4, the audio privacy mode is activated, and the mute button for the camera is Ctrl + F9. Why is this important? Is Linux so insecure that someone can remotely access your webcam? This is an obvious question and I would like to clarify a few things on the subject. We live in a connected world using the internet through a variety of applications. Although your operating system may be inherently secure, there may be some level of intrusion at the application level.
Browser extensions are used to steal data . Imagine a rogue browser extension with access to your webcam or microphone? Therefore, disabling access to the webcam, microphone, etc. at the hardware level is a better option. New privacy drivers from Dell enable this feature. As Fronix pointed out , there are also indications that Dell is working on a 'privacy screen' in front of the privacy driver. The privacy screen reduces the horizontal/vertical viewing angles of the screen so that viewers cannot see your screen content clearly. When is the Dell Privacy Driver available? Will it be for everyone? There is no deadline as things are evolving. Note that this is a Dell specific solution and they will introduce this in their new models in 2021. Although I think it should be available for any Dell device since it's included in the Linux kernel, but I can't confirm that.