How to disable iSight?

One way would be to set up parental controls so she has non usage of certain programs and/or features. Other than that don't let her use the computer. It's called, "who's in charge."

If I might suggest: never let anyone else sit in front of an admin account - always log out or at least use a screen saver to lock the Mac. Misuse of the iSight might be the least of it: inexperienced (and curious) users can do a lot of damage in a short time ('what happens if I do this... oops...'). Create a new user account (non-admin) and, as suggested above, use Parental Controls to limit access.

Scripts like this one can easily disable and enable iSight.



  http://techslaves.org/index.php?page=62



However, be aware that the script simultaneously disables ALL USB webcams when active.
 
Moreover, enabling is just as easy as disabling, so disabling iSight is not a complete solution for your concern.

*I completely agree with the advice you have already been offered*. Administrator access is required to circumvent OS X's security features, so control it carefully. In addition to managing iSight use, you will also want to consider other functions that can permit activity that you might consider inappropriate, dangerous, or worse. In addition to inappropriate camera use, you should be concerned about controlling specific website access and the ability to send and receive email, instant messaging, and to access file sharing websites that can be used to transfer images, video, and other information.

The only way to really assure that a child is not using any computer inappropriately is to configure it with all available safeguards and then to carefully control and monitor all the child's computer time.

EZ Jim



Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

if you're concerned about the security of your Admin password - change it to something else.

Go to System Preferences>Accounts.

Highlight the Admin name, and click Change Password...

You need a Standard Account, (or Non-Admin) in order to set Parental Controls.

For the Parental Controls, you can control which applications you want them to use, which websites your child looks at, etc. You can also set time limits, so if you only want them on the computer for 30 minutes a day, you can set it as that.

You can have it log all the activity and then send the logs to your e-mail so you know which applications your child was using, what e-mail was sent/received, etc.

You can also set up Parental Controls remotely from another computer.

Hope this helps!

If she's taking explicit photos of herself and sending them to folks with the iSight, enabling parental controls is a completely inadequate measure. What's to stop her using a digital camera for the same purpose, or a cell phone camera? For that matter, if nobody's home with her, what's to stop her from inviting someone over for something worse than just swapping photos? Ultimately, this is not a problem that can be solved with technology. She's proven that she's irresponsible and can't be trusted at home alone... she should be sitting on her butt with a book all day at one of your parents' workplaces or a trusted neighbor's house, where someone can keep an eye on her.

At the very least, shut down the computer and take the power cord with you when you leave the house, or have your parents do it.