Use Zoom on a Mac? You might want to check your microphone settings
- Reference: 1644502022
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/02/10/zoom_mac_microphone/
- Source link:
The issue appears to affect the native app running on the current macOS release, Monterey, in which Apple has implemented a visual cue to alert users that an application or device is accessing their microphone or camera — via an orange or green dot in the Menu Bar, respectively.
Users began complaining about the issue after Monterrey was released late last year, and on December 27, Zoom Inc put out an [2]update that was meant to address the bug, stating that version 5.9.1 (3506) "resolved an issue regarding the microphone light indicator being triggered when not in a meeting."
[3]
However, it clearly hasn't fixed the issue for everyone.
[4]
[5]
Zoom has enjoyed massive growth and popularity due to worldwide COVID-19 lockdowns, and many people now use it as a videophone app – meaning that they leave it open in the background all the time, even when they aren't actively using it, so that they can receive Zoom calls unbidden. These users have complained, however, that Zoom appears to be keeping the microphone on constantly, even when they're not in a call.
Users on a Zoom community chat thread noted that even after installing the update, the issue persisted, with one commenting: "Well, that most recent update seems to have made no obvious difference. I've just noticed the orange dot again, and when I quit Zoom, Timing.app told me that I'd apparently been on a 2 hour Zoom call.
[6]
"At this point, it looks like it's safest to only run Zoom while on active calls and keep it quit otherwise."
Twitter users concurred this morning, with one dev [7]commenting "You can see the orange dot on Mac since the last update, that shows mic usage."
[8]Better CEO is 'taking time off' after firing 900 staff on Zoom
[9]America, when you're done hitting us with the ban hammer, see these on-prem Zoom vulns, says Positive
[10]Zoom-o-cracy: Wales MP misses vote, allowing COVID-passport rule change, blames the IT dept
[11]Zoom Five9 deal goes kaboom after shareholders say 'nope'
Zoom is no stranger to privacy concerns. At one point it [12]installed a hidden web server on customers' Macs to enable automatic call handling. Notably, Apple [13]updated macOS to remove the hidden program .
The Register has asked Zoom for comment yesterday afternoon. A company rep responded they "were looking into this." We'll update if a statement arrives.
In the meantime, if you'd like to know if apps are snooping on you, there are various third-party products such as [14]Micro Snitch or [15]OverSight to help you to monitor who's monitoring you. ®
Get our [16]Tech Resources
[1] https://community.zoom.com/t5/Meetings/Why-is-the-Zoom-app-listening-on-my-microphone-when-not-in-a/td-p/29019
[2] https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201361963-New-Updates-for-Mac-OS
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YgVEvKa6z5nNd0GwjZ9@XAAAAAE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YgVEvKa6z5nNd0GwjZ9@XAAAAAE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YgVEvKa6z5nNd0GwjZ9@XAAAAAE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YgVEvKa6z5nNd0GwjZ9@XAAAAAE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://twitter.com/phips28/status/1491486709707640835
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/10/better_ceo_holiday/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/15/positive_zoom_flaw/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/08/zoom_welsh_covid_passport_vote_parliament/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2021/10/01/zoom_five9_merger_scrapped/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/09/zoom_mac_webcam_security_patch/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2019/07/11/apple_removes_zooms_dodgy_hidden_web_server_on_mac/
[14] https://www.obdev.at/products/microsnitch/index.html
[15] https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html
[16] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "it looks like it's safest to only run Zoom while on active calls"
I'm not sure whether this was sarcasm but most people leave everything "on" permanently.
See also: people who blindly accept T+C's for services and the moan when they find their data has been passed to a third party, even though they agreed to it.
Re: "it looks like it's safest to only run Zoom while on active calls"
"Do these people ever turn off the lights ?"
If you mean the little standby LED on the TV, nope. Almost nobody turns that thing off at all ever. Probably a good proxy for how many turn off random unused apps on a Mac. Martin Lewis should do a campaign.
Re: "it looks like it's safest to only run Zoom while on active calls"
I even log out and shut down after using the computer, rather than just closing the lid.
Is it surprising considering the Chinese origins of Zoom ?
Most of their Engineering still is
The last report said90% of engineering was in China. The other 10 % could be support engineers.
Privacy is not a concern in China.
So all those businesses talking to each other over zoom?
Guess what. Just the meta information of who is talking to whom at what frequency and time is good enough.
Watching the watchers watch the watchers watch
In the meantime, if you'd like to know if apps are snooping on you, there are various third-party products such as Micro Snitch or OverSight to help you to monitor who's monitoring you.
Ehm,... you have to install a program to tell if a program is telling another program what you are doing? Maybe you should not install any of those (potentially) dangerous programs? Kind of who watches the watcher problem here. Just most of it is automated.
Is it just me, or does it sound absurd that we actually are in a situation where we are compounding programs to watch programs that watch other programs that watch us? And that is for commercial gain of who exactly? To push more adverts to the users?
Re: Watching the watchers watch the watchers watch
"Maybe you should not install any of those (potentially) dangerous programs?"
All programs are potentially dangerous. Users have to judge whether there is actual danger and balance that with their needs, wants and convenience. For most users, obviously convenience is weighted very heavily and all other concerns are weighted very low if not actually into negative weightings otherwise we'd not be in the situation of even the OS snooping on you these days, never mind all the 3rd party stuff. If people were really concerned, or informed enough that they have the choice to be concerned, snoopy programs would not have the success they currently enjoy.
Zoom.....
The security gift (gaff) that keeps on giving :-(
Also no audio on Ubuntu Snap Zoom-client
I "went" to an online seminar on 24 Jan and Zoom worked fine. When I "went" to another one on 31 Jan there was no audio. Now it denies that I have either a mic or a speaker.
Apparently the Ubuntu "Snap" for zoom-client was automatically updated and there is no previous version available to which ti revert.
Does nobody test these things?
Re: Also no audio on Ubuntu Snap Zoom-client
Tested or not, I won't install Zoom client software on any machine. It can run in a separate browser window, thank you, and be closed when the call is finished.
Re: Also no audio on Ubuntu Snap Zoom-client
Yes, we all test this stuff. After all, we (users) are all unpaid beta testers.
Oh, you meant that software companies should test software? The bean counters got rid of all of those expensive employees many years ago.
We don't even test the software that controls jet airliners, with hundreds of human lives at stake, why would you think anyone would test video chat software?
Just looking in
My desk phone has now been replaced by the Zoom app. Stop laughing at the back there, you'll confuse the spies!
I have stuck a bit of cardboard over the webcam, so they aren't embarrassed by any unscheduled wardrobe malfunctions, but they'll have to put up with the belching, sighing and swearing at Excel moments.
AC cause I don't want you all peering at me.
Re: Just looking in
I'd suggest that anyone on a desktop resort to using a USB-attached webcam+mic device for their video chat needs so that, once the chat is over, physicly unplug the device & thwart any attempts to use said devices for evesdropping.
If you're using a SmartPhone to do it, you're pretty much screwed. =-J
Re: Just looking in
All devices that have a camera or microphone and any kind of communication capability must satisfy one of two requirements to be used anywhere on my property:
* The camera/mic are mechanically detachable and have no independent energy source, to be detached when not in use, or
* All hardware and software is open source, the manufacturing process verifiable, and no covert surveillance functionality exists
Both together are preferred, but there is practically nothing on the market that satisfies the second. If a device satisfies neither, it goes in the waterproof metal bin (Faraday cage) next to the gate at the end of my lane. You may retrieve it when you leave. Yes, I'm serious.
What a surprise
Even joining a Zoom meeting in a private browsing window makes me a bit uneasy, there's no way on Earth I'd actually install their software on any of my computers. It's not so easy if you're hosting a meeting though, not all the features are available in a browser session.
Always broadcasting
In an earlier version of Zoom, when trying to get it running in a browser I noticed that even though the meeting hadn't started and Zoom showed us as "waiting for host", the video and audio streams from the host were running, showing her setting up and stuff, unaware that the camera was on. You just had to know where the hidden, muted browser widget that displayed the stream was in the CSS stack. I suspect that they would keep the streams running so that "mute person" and "start meeting" are instantaneous in the client. It would not surprise me if it still did this.
Oh, you're so clever.
"resolved an issue regarding the microphone light indicator being triggered when not in a meeting."
No. You resolved an issue where you were leaving the microphone on when not in a meeting.
What a bunch of disingenuous assholes.
"it looks like it's safest to only run Zoom while on active calls"
Wow. People have had to actually been surprised to come to this conclusion.
I must really be a cave troll. I only activate mobile data when I decide I need it. I only activate WiFi at home. I only activate BluTooth when I'm driving.
That means that I shut down mobile data when I'm done. I shut down Wifi when I'm done with it. I shut down BluTooth when I park the car.
Do these people ever turn off the lights ?