How do I disable the iSight camera on Mac OS 10.6?

Question

I want to disable my camera. Have it stop working. Have all applications that can use the camera to be unable to use the camera anymore. I would cut it out physically from the device if that wouldn't void the warranty and wouldn't be so brutal and barbaric, but I'd like a software solution. Deleting /System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeUSBVDCDigitizer.component doesn't help. What can I do?

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered May 26 '11 at 15:33

There's always the low-tech solution of a piece of electrical tape over the camera, or the determined hacker's modification of disconnecting/desoldering the hardware itself.

If your laptop is still under warranty, go for the band-aid over the camera trick. The pad shouldn't scratch the lens.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 26 '11 at 15:46

The most absolute way to ensure that iSight will stop working would be to open the macbook up, but I understand not wanting to do so.

I think what you are looking for is the following (type this in the terminal):

sudo launchctl unload -w com.apple.IIDCAssistant.plist

Source: "NSA's Guide to Hardening OSX 10.6"

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 09 '17 at 20:44

You can create a text file with the content below. Open a text editor, paste the contents and save it with the name disableCamera.mobileconfig. Now you can open it using Finder to install a device profile that disables the camera.

It's easy to enable the camera again: Open the profile dialogue by opening the file again, then cancel the request to install the profile. Then select the Disable Camera profile and click the - button.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
    <string>com.apple.mdm.mba.263c7450-4ae1-0133-5b68-68a86d032b5e.alacarte</string>
    <key>PayloadRemovalDisallowed</key>
    <false/>
    <key>PayloadScope</key>
    <string>System</string>
    <key>PayloadType</key>
    <string>Configuration</string>
    <key>PayloadUUID</key>
    <string>263c7450-4ae1-0133-5b68-68a86d032b5e</string>
    <key>PayloadOrganization</key>
    <string>Paul</string>
    <key>PayloadVersion</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
    <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
    <string>Disable Camera</string>
    <key>PayloadDescription</key>
    <string>This profile will enable an OS X Restrictions payload where the only option configured to remove permissions is "Allow Camera Use" is unchecked</string>
    <key>PayloadContent</key>
    <array>

      <dict>
        <key>PayloadType</key>
        <string>com.apple.coremediaio.support</string>
        <key>PayloadVersion</key>
        <integer>1</integer>
        <key>PayloadIdentifier</key>
        <string>com.apple.mdm.mba.263c7450-4ae1-0133-5b68-68a86d032b5e.alacarte.macosxrestrictions.26341050-4ae1-0133-5b67-68a86d032b5e.support</string>
        <key>PayloadEnabled</key>
        <true/>
        <key>PayloadUUID</key>
        <string>82807313-a6ee-8f6a-34a3-060c3fc6ec24</string>
        <key>PayloadDisplayName</key>
        <string>Disable Camera</string>
        <key>Device Access Allowed</key>
        <false/>
      </dict>
    </array>
  </dict>
</plist>

(Solution found in this comment thread on techslaves.org. A file for download is linked in this comment.)

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:16

0

I haven't this tried yet, but maybe temporarily removing the camera driver/.kext might work.

References:

edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:16

Community

1

answered Sep 23 '12 at 22:22

George Profenza

820

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 20 '17 at 10:17

Building on George's answer, this Hacmac page suggests moving two iSight driver files:

Are you constantly seeing the green light on? Just paranoid? Use these handy terminal commands to disable the iSight camera (be sure to replace YourName with your username!):
sudo mv /System/Library/QuickTime/QuickTimeUSBVDCDigitizer.component /Users/YourName/Desktop
and
sudo mv /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions/A/Resources/VDC.plugin /Users/YourName/Desktop
What you have just done is move two drivers for the iSight camera out of their system folders and onto your Desktop. If you wish to reverse this move, you simply change the direction (assuming you haven’t moved the files since then):
sudo mv/Users/YourName/Desktop/QuickTimeUSBVDCDigitizer.component/System/Library/QuickTime/
and
sudo mv /Users/YourName/Desktop/VDC.plugin /System/Library/PrivateFramework/CoreMediaIOServicesPrivate.framework/Versions/A/Resources/
If you want to make the iSight stay disabled forever, simply dump the files on your Desktop into the Trash and empty it.

How do I disable the iSight camera on Mac OS 10.6?

5 Answers5