Micro Snitch

Although I have never had the displeasure of discovering I've been spied on through my webcam, the days when I could scoff at such a notion are long gone. Marginally skilled hackers have long found ways to tap into our webcams, which is frustratingly frightening enough, but a proliferation of reports in recent years emphatically shows that even employers and schools have been found guilty of secretly accessing users' webcams. I wouldn't call myself an internet security paranoiac by any stretch – I'm actually among the least so in my group of friends and colleagues. My willful naivety has afforded me the luxury of never needing to *know why* users get spied on. It's a topic of conversation outside of which I can sit happily, minding my own business. I think the dev team at Objective Development – developers of Little Snitch and this wonderful new app – knows some of us are this way, which is why Micro Snitch indulges a different, more universal user interest: it doesn't let you *know why*, it just lets you *know*. And with a menu bar app and overall UI as unobtrusive as Micro Snitch boasts, alongside a comprehensive log that records info right inside your Console, you don't need to feel like a conspiracy theorist to be in the clear. Micro Snitch gets you covered for an almost negligible price: it costs no time to set up, it costs you barely any system resources to load and have running, and it costs you less than you'd spend on almost anything useful. Maybe you're not preoccupied with webcam security – with Micro Snitch, you'll never need to be.

Does not appear to function with Apple Thunderbolt monitor.

Micro Snitch was updated to version 1.3 at the end of Sept. https://obdev.at/products/microsnitch/releasenotes.html Unfortunately it is still incompatible with Apples original iSight FireWire camera. It is recognized as cam + mic, but no reaction from Micro Snitch when it becomes active... :-(

I bought Micro Snitch in the Mac App Store but unfortunately version 1.2 is not compatible with the new MacBook Pro 2016. I hope the developer does not delay to update your application! Here's what I get when I open Micro Snitch: Micro Snitch is not compatible with these devices The following devices can not be reliably monitored: CaptoDevice Soundflower (64ch) Loopback Audio Soundflower (2ch) https://cl.ly/ibhT/Micro_Snitch_Failure_on_MacBook_Pro_2016.png

The developer has confirmed that this app is compatible with Sierra.

Bought it and it works fine on my iMac, but not so on the MBP running Yosemite, just as the dev warns. It would also be great to have the ability to block certain apps from accessing either or both the mic and camera. Maybe that can be incorporated in a (near) future version.

With all the news about spying and hacking, It is fine to find a small app that I hope it is effective. I just bought the app at the introductory half price. I tested it and when the mic or cam are used (by FaceTime) it logs the activity but I do not know effective it is. I hope some experts will review it soon.

Although I have never had the displeasure of discovering I've been spied on through my webcam, the days when I could scoff at such a notion are long gone. Marginally skilled hackers have long found ways to tap into our webcams, which is frustratingly frightening enough, but a proliferation of reports in recent years emphatically shows that even employers and schools have been found guilty of secretly accessing users' webcams. I wouldn't call myself an internet security paranoiac by any stretch – I'm actually among the least so in my group of friends and colleagues. My willful naivety has afforded me the luxury of never needing to *know why* users get spied on. It's a topic of conversation outside of which I can sit happily, minding my own business. I think the dev team at Objective Development – developers of Little Snitch and this wonderful new app – knows some of us are this way, which is why Micro Snitch indulges a different, more universal user interest: it doesn't let you *know why*, it just lets you *know*. And with a menu bar app and overall UI as unobtrusive as Micro Snitch boasts, alongside a comprehensive log that records info right inside your Console, you don't need to feel like a conspiracy theorist to be in the clear. Micro Snitch gets you covered for an almost negligible price: it costs no time to set up, it costs you barely any system resources to load and have running, and it costs you less than you'd spend on almost anything useful. Maybe you're not preoccupied with webcam security – with Micro Snitch, you'll never need to be.