New research by two John Hopkins University students showed older Apple Mac’s cameras, iSight, can be hacked to covertly monitor users.

John Hopkins University students turn Apple MacBook webcam iSight into covert surveillance  camera iSeeYou. (Photo Courtesty of John Hopkins University.)

According to the study microcontrollers that turn the LED indicator lights on when the camera is functioning to inform users can be reprogrammed to remain off. The microcontrollers are programmed so the lights function independently from the camera. A second method of tampering highlighted by the study was the use of malware to hijack iSight. With the LED light indicator turned off during recording, ill-intent parties can survey MacBook owners unknowingly.

Apple MacBook 2008 iSight components tested in the study. (Photo Courtesy of John Hopkins University)

A stalker using webcams for extortion has been reported in the U.S. A young man was found guilty of remotely hacking 19-year old Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf’s webcam to obtain nude photos, according to Mac Cult report.

For concerned MacBook users, the John Hopkins University study offers a patch ware n OS X kernel extension, iSightDefender to counter potential malware. For more information please click here for the study.