The mainly applies to people that have cameras attached to their gaming PC's and consoles.

 

Its a pretty disturbing finding on how Activision [Only one caught at it so far, but could/probably is, happening with other games publishers as well ] on how they are using embedded code to use your PC/Consoles camera to watch/record your facial expressions as you game, and use that information to see what in games makes the player have a different reaction.

 

This information is in turn used to target DLC , in game purchases etc , at least in the least nefarious way of looking at this finding.

What else it is used for, and by whom and for what purpose is not known.

I imagine as A.I. facial recognition software progresses [its possibly good enough already] a lot more detailed, and personally specific information about people could be gathered without them knowing.

 

The legalities of this is questionable.

 

 

 

Always read the fine print. Also putting a swab of electrical tape over the camera probably wouldn't hurt.

8 hours ago, David A said:

Always read the fine print. Also putting a swab of electrical tape over the camera probably wouldn't hurt.

 

I've been trying to explain to a 15 year old grand kid the dangers involved with technology, this video is the closest I've gotten for it to finally sink in on how easy it is for people to use it against you.

 

3 minutes ago, Tweaky said:

 

I've been trying to explain to a 15 year old grand kid the dangers involved with technology, this video is the closest I've gotten for it to finally sink in on how easy it is for people to use it against you.

 

We have nieces around that age, what I need is a 15 year old to explain to me how to explain things to a 15 year old. 
 

9 hours ago, David A said:

Also putting a swab of electrical tape over the camera probably wouldn't hurt.

 

I prefer the expensive option,  $4.25 for 3 -

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/224100219009?_skw=camera+cover&itmmeta=01JJ0D5RNVDAK20VE1AATBSX1V&hash=item342d69f881:g:5YEAAOSw2uxg6UAd&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkC4Xo0N9w%2BirL8Cmc20wDAeLSKy3PoauYItCdDgq%2FyjKwe6pbCCk%2FpmfvGW71kbHc9hTmm8o%2F7BvLYFHSl8sOxibnhUtSLXmqBlhktVNK8kcE38UG8RD%2FLF%2FD7cY9dP4vG9O1WOVtcR7akg2r1fa6DpJntBtfhlUZc4en8OVmy4eX1DLEA3E3FM2hUI%2BdjbzvZlepzi%2FlcikzG%2F2R68lSBVjWdIM4ejxuS2YkdFme1yy2%2BlIomN0tRvS1j5%2FLf%2FQMrUP1HkC6m%2Bp9tJLuprYNp|tkp%3ABFBMsIuXjZBl

 

Edited January 19, 20251 yr by Kaynin

2 hours ago, Godot said:

We have nieces around that age, what I need is a 15 year old to explain to me how to explain things to a 15 year old. 
 

Its getting, and then being able to keep their attention, without them trying to look at a device while you are talking that is the most difficult thing.

3 hours ago, Kaynin said:

 

I prefer the expensive option,  $4.25 for 3 -

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/224100219009?_skw=camera+cover&itmmeta=01JJ0D5RNVDAK20VE1AATBSX1V&hash=item342d69f881:g:5YEAAOSw2uxg6UAd&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkC4Xo0N9w%2BirL8Cmc20wDAeLSKy3PoauYItCdDgq%2FyjKwe6pbCCk%2FpmfvGW71kbHc9hTmm8o%2F7BvLYFHSl8sOxibnhUtSLXmqBlhktVNK8kcE38UG8RD%2FLF%2FD7cY9dP4vG9O1WOVtcR7akg2r1fa6DpJntBtfhlUZc4en8OVmy4eX1DLEA3E3FM2hUI%2BdjbzvZlepzi%2FlcikzG%2F2R68lSBVjWdIM4ejxuS2YkdFme1yy2%2BlIomN0tRvS1j5%2FLf%2FQMrUP1HkC6m%2Bp9tJLuprYNp|tkp%3ABFBMsIuXjZBl

 

 

Blutak.👍

Edited January 20, 20251 yr by stevoz

On 1/19/2025 at 2:03 PM, Tweaky said:

The mainly applies to people that have cameras attached to their gaming PC's and consoles.

 

Its a pretty disturbing finding on how Activision [Only one caught at it so far, but could/probably is, happening with other games publishers as well ] on how they are using embedded code to use your PC/Consoles camera to watch/record your facial expressions as you game, and use that information to see what in games makes the player have a different reaction.

 

This information is in turn used to target DLC , in game purchases etc , at least in the least nefarious way of looking at this finding.

What else it is used for, and by whom and for what purpose is not known.

I imagine as A.I. facial recognition software progresses [its possibly good enough already] a lot more detailed, and personally specific information about people could be gathered without them knowing.

 

The legalities of this is questionable.

 

In general, I still believe that games are created not to spy on us, but you never know what other internet users can do and for what reason. Hacking something is possible, so it's important to think about safety. If you can cover the camera, then it's worth doing. The same goes for games; you always have to choose those that offer you security. From time to time, I play online games, and I always take my time to choose games that I'm sure will be safe. If someone is into playing pokies, I can recommend this site https://pokiesman.net/payid-pokies/ which I think is the best when it comes to choosing where and what to play. The information there is accurate, and it will for sure help you to choose something. On that site, I found a few pokies I liked, and I've been playing since that time with no problems; everything is secure and safe.

 

Today, you have to be careful not only with games but also with everything else online. You never know whether you can be watched by a game or not.

I'm not a big gamer, but my camera is always covered with tape. I try to be careful, just in case. A lot of private info about us is already online, and if I can do something to protect myself, I'll do it.

 

2 hours ago, lorenaparas said:

Today, you have to be careful not only with games but also with everything else online. You never know whether you can be watched by a game or not.

I'm not a big gamer, but my camera is always covered with tape. I try to be careful, just in case. A lot of private info about us is already online, and if I can do something to protect myself, I'll do it.

 

That's also the reason why I have never ever been on social media.

I could see the huge negative side of Facebook / Instagram etc from the very beginning, your just asking for trouble allowing personal information , plus pictures of your life to be seen indiscriminately by anybody that wishes to probe into your life. 

On 29/05/2025 at 9:43 AM, Tweaky said:

That's also the reason why I have never ever been on social media.

I could see the huge negative side of Facebook / Instagram etc from the very beginning, your just asking for trouble allowing personal information , plus pictures of your life to be seen indiscriminately by anybody that wishes to probe into your life. 

Me too

11 hours ago, Herbs said:

Me too

Same. It is incredible how many people I know just assume that I will know stuff from Facebook. Not participating on those platforms has meant I have missed out on social occasions where all the organising was done on Facebook. Small price to pay in my view! I have been in WhatsApp group chats, but I leave them as soon as anyone posts anything not related to the purpose of the group. 
All my gaming is done in person with people in the same room and doesn’t require devices. 

2 hours ago, Godot said:

Same. It is incredible how many people I know just assume that I will know stuff from Facebook. Not participating on those platforms has meant I have missed out on social occasions where all the organising was done on Facebook. Small price to pay in my view! I have been in WhatsApp group chats, but I leave them as soon as anyone posts anything not related to the purpose of the group. 
All my gaming is done in person with people in the same room and doesn’t require devices. 

 

They wanted me to install WhatsApp on my iPhone at my old workplace around 7 years ago, I read the terms and conditions before allowing it to install.

One of the conditions was you grant the App complete access to all of the contacts installed on your phone..

I thought, why the hell would I allow that, when I only would have to have needed to add under 10 contacts ?

 

Result was I refused to install WhatsApp, to which I got ridiculed that I was unnecessarily worried about people stealing information, or being hacked.

 

As I understand it, in the ensuing years, at least one in that WhatsApp group has since suffered identity theft , and is still going through hell trying to sort reoccurring problems resulting from it.

I'm not suggesting WhatsApp was the reason for the I.D. theft, more like total complacency regarding security when it came to clicking on every cookie request asked of her when browsing the web.

The Young and Dumb tend to do that.

 

On 4/6/2025 at 11:31 AM, Tweaky said:

 

They wanted me to install WhatsApp on my iPhone at my old workplace around 7 years ago, I read the terms and conditions before allowing it to install.

One of the conditions was you grant the App complete access to all of the contacts installed on your phone..

I thought, why the hell would I allow that, when I only would have to have needed to add under 10 contacts ?

 

Result was I refused to install WhatsApp, to which I got ridiculed that I was unnecessarily worried about people stealing information, or being hacked.

 

As I understand it, in the ensuing years, at least one in that WhatsApp group has since suffered identity theft , and is still going through hell trying to sort reoccurring problems resulting from it.

I'm not suggesting WhatsApp was the reason for the I.D. theft, more like total complacency regarding security when it came to clicking on every cookie request asked of her when browsing the web.

The Young and Dumb tend to do that.

 

Check out this link.. Talking about being watched. 

 

7 minutes ago, drummerboy01 said:

Check out this link.. Talking about being watched. 

 

 

I've seen this before.

But I think there might be another, and that's SONY.

It has a mic in the remote, but I've always had it switched off, but SONY uses GooGle TV as its OS, and you link your phone to it.

Unless you go into your phones settings and turn the option for the Google app to have access to your phones mic OFF, I think you are going to be in the same boat, as Google will transmit back to the TV.

How many people sit watching TV with their phones ?

 Pretty much everyone.

8 minutes ago, Tweaky said:

 

I've seen this before.

But I think there might be another, and that's SONY.

It has a mic in the remote, but I've always had it switched off, but SONY uses GooGle TV as its OS, and you link your phone to it.

Unless you go into your phones settings and turn the option for the Google app to have access to your phones mic OFF, I think you are going to be in the same boat, as Google will transmit back to the TV.

How many people sit watching TV with their phones ?

 Pretty much everyone.

Yea it’s a crazy old world and to be honest it makes me wonder how long it can sustain itself. It’s a massive issue that is hard to get our heads around. We really have to think for our own privacy more than ever before.