Is there a way to turn off and On the isight camera or app to do it ?????

Global,

I do this by issuing the following command as root when I want it to be 'unplugged' and unavailable:

chmod -R 000 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMediaIO.framework/Resources/VDC.plugin/Contents/ Resources/VDCAssistant

I issue this command when I want to turn it on:

chmod -R 000 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMediaIO.framework/Resources/VDC.plugin/Contents/ Resources/VDCAssistant

Or...copy and paste the below script into a document and save it.

1. From a terminal, type chmod 755 [Document Name].
2. type: bash [Document Name]

It will ask you for the sysadmin [password to make these changes.

Run it once, it kills any cams and disables the device (shows as unplugged) and says so to you. Run it again, it plugs it back in.

In the interest of full disclosure it is possible for something else to do the same thing (as root), it's just less likely since your addressing it at the file system layer instead of up at the application layer. This is slightly less secure than physically disconnecting it.

#!/bin/bash

# WRITTEN BY MJVona
# PURPOSE:
#
# TO 'UNPLUG' THE iSITE CAMERA ON A MAC
# FROM THE FILE SYSTEM
# IT WILL ASK YOU FOR THE ROOT PASSWORD
# USE:
# type bash disable_camera.sh, the camera will be disabled.
# type it again, the camera is enabled.
#
#########################April 2/2014#########################

[ "$UID" -eq 0 ] || exec sudo bash "$0" "$@"
#This script written by Matthew Vona
#Disables and re-enables the apple I-Sight Camera.
state=`stat /System/Library/Frameworks/VideoToolbox.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/VTDeco derXPCService.xpc | awk '{ print $3}'`
exec=`grep -o "x" <<<"$state" | wc -l `
#echo "my state is $state"
if [ "$exec" -gt 0 ]; then
{
unset -v enabled
}
else
{
enabled="1"
}
fi
#.
VDC_PATH="/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework /Versions/A/Resources/AVC.plugin"
QT_PATH="/System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeUSBVDCDigitizer.component"
if [ -z $enabled ]; then
{
chmod -R 444 $VDC_PATH
chmod -R 444 $QT_PATH
chmod -R 444 /System/Library/Frameworks/VideoToolbox.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/VTDeco derXPCService.xpc
chmod -R 000 /System/Library/Frameworks/VideoToolbox.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/VTDeco derXPCService.xpc
user_prc=`ps -ef | grep VDCAssistant | grep -v grep | awk '{print $2}'`
kill -9 $user_prc
chmod -R 000 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMediaIO.framework/Resources/VDC.plugin/Contents/ Resources/VDCAssistant
say "camera has been disabled"
}
else
{
chmod -R 755 $VDC_PATH
chmod -R 755 $QT_PATH
chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Frameworks/VideoToolbox.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/VTDeco derXPCService.xpc
chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreMediaIO.framework/Resources/VDC.plugin/Contents/ Resources/VDCAssistant
say "Camera has been enabled"
}
fi

A gentle reminder for Globalmark (if you are still watching this very old thread...) and other readers:

Moving, renaming, or deleting files outside your Username/Documents folder, whether manually or by using OS X Terminal Utility commands like those recommended above, is generally a BAD idea unless you are expert enough to KNOW how your actions will effectyourOS X Mac.

If you are not comfortable using Terminal, you should carefully consider whether to follow Terminal instructions from any but a source you trust.

EZ Jim,

I would say that it is FAR safer for a user to learn to use the script and learn what it does, than to download apps from odd websites that may or may not do the same thing.

Just my $.02

Cyborger80 wrote: ... Just my $.02

Cheers for that. Readers can compare yours with mine. 😉

EZ Jim

Sheez I hate to go low-tech on you guys but sometimes low-tech is easier, and faster. This is the one of those times.

Get yourself a small piece of paper and fold it in half and place it over the camera on the top of the iMac. Slide it to the left when you need to use the camera. Slide it back when you're done.

iSight Disabler 5 now claims to support Mavericks

People are always wanting to turn off (that means DISABLE) their webcam for all applications... because some applications start up and reset their settings to automatically turn it back on even after you've turned it off in that application. Skype is one that does this on both Windows and OS X systems.

I was also seeking an answer to this question

<Edited by Host>

tlm550 wrote:... turn off (that means DISABLE) their webcam for all applications... I was also seeking an answer to this question

Barring some unusual circumstance, there should be no need to disable your webcam because YOU decide when to use your webcam. Mac webcams are only turned "on" when the software application program that uses the webcam is launched. Quitting the application turns the webcam "off" again.

Some software application programs such as Apple's Messenger (and its predecessor, iChat) allow you to enable and disable the webcam from menu commands. As a non-Apple example, Skype > Preferences has a setting that lets you disable Skype video as follows:

However, if you REALLY want to disable all internal and external USB webcams, scripts like http://techslaves.org/index.php?page=62 can easily disable and enable them for Mac OS X versions before 10.11.x.

If you use Mac OS X 10.11 and cannot find a disabler script that works, you can manually disable your built-in webcam by removing the "QuickTimeUSBVDCDIgitizer.component" file from your computer's HardDriveName > System > Library > QuickTime folder and restarting your Mac. Your USB webcam should no longer work with any app. If you do not know how to do this for Mac OS X 10.11.x, I offer three safe alternatives:

(1) Don't try to disable the camera for all software application programs.

Instead, turn your webcam off by quitting applications or using the

application's software menu choices to disable video for individual applications.

(2) Retreat to Mac OS X 10.10.x or earlier so you can use

a disabler script that works with your chosen Mac OS version.

(3) Contact an Apple-Authorized Service Provider and have him remove the file safely.

(Backup your Mac and deauthorize iTunes before tendering your Mac for this service.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.11.2

Unfortunately this did not work for me. I created a backup of this folder to my home directory and can easily restore this in terminal. Would you suggest another directory? I was thinking that QuickTimeIIDCDigitizer.component was looking promising but I wanted to touch base and get some feedback first.

Mac Shell: ~/>$ ll /System/Library/QuickTime/

total 0

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 ApplePixletVideo.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 AppleProResDecoder.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 AppleVAH264HW.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuartzComposer.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTime3GPP.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Sep 16 2015 QuickTimeComponents.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeFireWireDV.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeH264.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeIIDCDigitizer.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeImporters.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeMPEG.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeMPEG4.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeStreaming.component

drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Aug 22 2015 QuickTimeVR.component

Mac Shell: ~/>$

this works for me also.

I just created 2 sh files: one for enabling and one for disabling the webcam.

disablewebcam.sh:

sudo chmod 000 /Library/CoreMediaIO/Plug-Ins/DAL/AppleCamera.plugin/Contents/MacOS/AppleCamera
sudo chmod 000 /Library/CoreMediaIO/Plug-Ins/FCP-DAL/AppleCamera.plugin/Contents/MacOS/AppleCamera

enablewebcam.sh:

sudo chmod 755 /Library/CoreMediaIO/Plug-Ins/DAL/AppleCamera.plugin/Contents/MacOS/AppleCamera
sudo chmod 755 /Library/CoreMediaIO/Plug-Ins/FCP-DAL/AppleCamera.plugin/Contents/MacOS/AppleCamera

Done.

I really wonder how users prefer a tape on top of the camera instead of asking apple for a proper fix !!

I am pretty sure that this method with changing permissions on those 2 files, will not work in the next version, since apple is changing the file location with every new version.

One other thing. Germany has a law saying that all devices must have an on/off switch that can be used to disable a webcam, but I guess this doesn't apply to a big company.

disabling the webcam per application base doesn't always work. I am using cisco jabber and there is no option to disable the camera before the conversation starts. After the conversation starts, there is a button to disable the camera.

Plus, there are many other applications.

There should be a global enable/disable feature. If i don't want to have the webcam on, i should be able to disable it everywhere.

This may very well be a stupid question, but I've been reading and watching movies where someone can hack into a computer and "turn on" a camera, is that fact or fiction? If it's fact, there should be a way where someone can just disable/enable a camera easily. Or, am I just being paranoid?

You can take a soldering iron and just stick it through the lens until it melts and doesn't work anymore. Cool but simple.

I have the same issue - rather being trite and condescending, it might help to better understand the problem...

In my case, I used Facetime, which launched isight, but when I closed the application, the camera stays on. It will eventually close if I restart the system, but surely there is a way to just turn off the camera without having to either restart the computer or disable it.

I am using an iMac running El Capitan 10.11.6.

CREW3 wrote:

I have the same issue - rather being trite and condescending, it might help to better understand the problem...

In my case, I used Facetime, which launched isight, but when I closed the application, the camera stays on. It will eventually close if I restart the system, but surely there is a way to just turn off the camera without having to either restart the computer or disable it.

I am using an iMac running El Capitan 10.11.6.

That is not the way it should be working. There is something wrong with your computer. I'd suggest you start your own thread explaining the problem in the subject line (e.g. Camera does not turn off after closing FaceTime). Once you get the underlying problem resolved, you won't need to be messing about with scripts or tape.

Best of luck.