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Tape works really well for disabling webcams. Microphones are a bit trickier, but if you're not against permanent damage shouldn't be too hard.

don't forget that any speaker can be reversed to function as a microphone. A bit more annoying disabling that.

I take it you're not a very big Xbox One fan, then?

is that some kind of packaging solution?

I wonder if having the webcam always on but piping to /dev/null would prevent a trojan from accessing it...

I also wonder if plugging a 3rd party mic into line-in and switching it off would have a similar effect for the mic.

You can never be sure unless your fix is physical.

well if plugging the disabled 3rd party mic somehow leaves the internal one recording, that would imply your soundcard just got upgraded to having the ability for two inputs recording simulataneously. usually cost a premium, such cards :)

- unfortunately the iMac has two mics for noise reduction...

Unfortunately, input and output switching is usually implemented in software these days, so an attacker could probably just remotely switch to the internal mic on most laptops.