Way Creepy - School used student laptop webcams to spy on them at school and hom

[zarn02]

also, this is the town right next to where i live. it's all voer the news. and not just because of the webcam thing. it's a more affluent school district and people are asking why they get to give kids laptops when the poorer ones where the kid's parents have no chance of affording them can't get anything.

Is it a public school, or a private school? I thought someone earlier said private.

If it's public they have a point.

If it's private someone should give them a primer is basic economics.

[KnightofNi]

it's public unless i misheard all 12 reports on it today.

[zarn02]

it's public unless i misheard all 12 reports on it today.

Fair enough.

(The proles were, of course, free of the telescreen. The inner party cared not what they did... )

[redxblack]

The school where I work is handing out laptops next year. I wonder how this story will affect the roll-out.

[cduarte]

turn off remote access.

and get a router.... if you're behind a nat'd router, there's basically no way they can get in.

[zarn02]

The inevitable denial.

[ducpainter]

The inevitable denial.

In the "acceptable-use" agreement, the families are made aware of the school's ability to "monitor" the hardware, Young said, but it stops short of explicitly explaining the security feature. He said that was a mistake.

Mistake indeed....

[CairnsDuc]

I want to know how he did it, so I can prevent people from doing it to me....the new laptop that I bought yesterday has a webcam (only computer in my home that has one).  I was already planning on putting tape over it, but I would like to prevent people from being able to access my computer anyways.

I have a Mac that has any remote access turned off, How did he do it? he would not tell me, but it made me a bit more paranoid about Cameras in/on computers,
I always assume if a camera is on/near a computer it is on and recording unless it unplugged or batteries removed.

I've been selling copies of that live footage for years

That explains why people keep coming up to me saying "Hey! your that Goat Guy!"   

[redxblack]

I'll be sure to put electrical tape on a dispenser reel when these things are rolled out.

[zarn02]

http://techdirt.com/articles/20100221/2118128243.shtml

[acalles]

holy shit have you seen that video?  funny as hell!!!

yes I have, and it was awesome..

"I told you not to mess with me" 

I won't post it though, probably get me banned if I did.

and to stay on topic. yeah, why is the school buying computers for kids to take home.. seems like a huge waste of money.