The latest update of Apple’s mobile OS incorporates a system allowing the user to have an indication on the screen when the microphone or the camera of his iPhone is being used by an application.
iOS 14 drastically strengthens the protection of the privacy of its users. Among the new features that Apple has put in place to improve its arsenal, there is one that should make users realize how the slightest harmless actions can compromise their privacy.
Much like on Macs, Apple now displays a colored visual indicator directly on the screen, at the top right of the notch, whenever an application uses the iPhone’s microphone or camera. The user then only has to check whether this use is legitimate or not.
1. The iPhone displays an orange “LED”
If you see an orange dot appear to the right of the notch, it means the app you’re using is currently accessing the iPhone’s microphone to listen to what’s going on, and potentially record it. . The display of this orange indicator is for example quite legitimate if you use Siri, dictate a message, try to recognize a song with Shazam or record a voice memo.
However, it may activate even though you have not requested any functionality that requires the use of the microphone. If so, this indicates that the app is potentially listening to what is going on around the iPhone, and therefore may be unwittingly recording all the sounds, noises and conversations in your surroundings. You can then contact the developer to ask for more information as to why the microphone is used in its application when this should not a priori be the case.
2. The iPhone displays a green “LED”
In the same way that the orange LED indicates use of the microphone, the display of a green dot to the right of the notch indicates the use of the iPhone camera by the application in use. . If you are using the camera on your own, as it also requires microphone access for videos, you will only see the green “LED” appear, just like Macbooks and iMacs and their FaceTime cameras.
In any case, if you see that famous green LED light up while you are using an application and the use of the iPhone camera is not justified, you will be entitled to ask yourself the reasons for which the application requires this access to the camera. Again, do not hesitate to contact the developer of the application to ask for more information.
If in doubt about an app that has visibly suspicious use of iPhone’s microphone or camera, delete it from your device.
Also, by deploying the iOS Control Center within seconds of exiting an app, you will be able to see if the app has accessed your iPhone’s microphone or camera.