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Comment by dandare | Hacker News Reader

Laptops urgently need to have a hardware switch for the microphone. A mobile phone should have one too - but that will never happen. At least the laptop is large enough that one little switch is not a problem (unless you are Apple and even essential peripherals are a problem).

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>Apple has brought its hardware microphone disconnect security feature to its latest iPads.

The microphone disconnect security feature aims to make it far more difficult for hackers to use malware or a malicious app to eavesdrop on a device’s surroundings.

The feature was first introduced to Macs by way of Apple’s T2 security chip last year. The security chip ensured that the microphone was physically disconnected from the device when the user shuts their MacBook lid.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/03/apple-hardware-microphone-...

As someone who uses his laptop in clamshell mode most of the time, this was an anti-feature for me.

Having to literally lift the lid and MacOS readjusting the display every time I want to have a meeting was frustrating. It got to the point where I just bought a cheap USB microphone just to be done with it.

I support having a hardware switch for it so that I can have the choice.

For me it certainly is a feature. I want the microphone of when turning down the lid.

I mean, the microphone is under the lid anyway so you are not doing whoever you are talking to any favours by using it in clamshell mode anyway.

It would take Apple just one change in ToC to exclude something from the software switch. Firstly it would be only law enforcement, then diagnostic features, then selected trusted partners, then anyone with money. If you think Apple would never risk its reputation like that, just wait until their market value stops to grow. That is why we need a hardware switch.

Pinephone and Librem 5 have these afaik.

Purism laptops do as well, I believe.

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