zlacker

you and i have very different experience with webcams. i have yet to see a webcam without an indicator led in my life.

>>nyolfe+(OP)
I agree, I can't recall seeing a laptop cam without an indicator led.

>>nyolfe+(OP)
I'm pretty sure his meaning was that an "indicator led" is not the same thing as an "on" light. A usb webcam is on as long as the host is providing power, the led is on the honor system - completely implementation dependent. My $2 dynex lights up when accessed in Windows, but I can easily pull images from it in linux without the led coming on - it is driver controlled. It wouldn't be hard to modify the windows driver, or write your own.

>>nyolfe+(OP)
My just retired Acer laptop has no such light. My HP Windows tablet I use with a bluetooth keyboard doesn't either.

I checked and my new(ish) XPS 13 does have a tiny light when you use it as does my ASUS 2-in-1.

So I'm at 50-50 in my collection. I asked my girlfriend and she doesn't recall there being a light on her Toshiba laptop and she does Skype with it semi-regularly.

>>nyolfe+(OP)
I recall a blackhat video on YouTube where they could access webcams and disable the LED, having a LED isn't a certain indication unless you know that it's not software activated. I have a Logitech and was able to control the LED using information given at the time ... can't recall the details now sorry.

A quick search on security.stackexchange reveals similar info.

>>nyolfe+(OP)
You have not seen these?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-961237-0403-QuickCam-Messenge...

10+ years ago they basically defined what a webcam is (search "webcam icon" and observe the symbology --- appropriately eyeball-shaped), and they don't have any indicators.