Disable or Turn OFF the Camera

Hezi

I own an i-mate k-ajm running Windows Mobile 5.
I cannot take the phone with me when I get to visit a classified site since
the security officer is concerned that the Camera button shall be pressed
unintentionally and take a picture.
Hence, I am looking for a method to disable the camera functionality (in a
way that I can restore it on a future day).

I tried to rename the camera.exe application file in the /windows folder but
the system would not let do that.

i-mate hinted that this may require a registry update but were not willing
to take a step further to find a solution.

Does anyone have a solution that will allow to rename the camera.exe or to
edit the appropriate registry entry (say through a .cab file) that shall
invoke the calc.exe (just as an example) instead of the camera???

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]

That's flexible security ;-)

been a while and don't know if this will still work on wm5+ rom files

Create an empty file named "camera.exe"

soft-reset the ppc

connect the ppc via activesync

use the pc's file explorer to browse to the location of camera.exe (you
will have to set file explorer to see hidden/system files)

copy the empty camera.exe file over the file on the ppc... been too long
but there will be some protestations and attributes issues to deal with.

If you are successful, the new (empty) file will be executed when the
button is pressed.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

V Green

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in message
news:%23TKwHcj8HHA.4736@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> That's flexible security ;-)
>
> been a while and don't know if this will still work on wm5+ rom files
>
> Create an empty file named "camera.exe"
>
> soft-reset the ppc
>
> connect the ppc via activesync
>
> use the pc's file explorer to browse to the location of camera.exe (you
> will have to set file explorer to see hidden/system files)
>
> copy the empty camera.exe file over the file on the ppc... been too long
> but there will be some protestations and attributes issues to deal with.
>
> If you are successful, the new (empty) file will be executed when the
> button is pressed.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

While this might work, any security worth its salt will also
realize that you can also go back to having camera functionality
just as easily as you disabled it.

Around here, if you have a phone that has a camera, a couple
gov't contractors I work for will give you the following options:

Take it back out to your car and leave it.
Give it to the security officer and reclaim it when you
leave the facility.

They would NOT go for any kind of software solution,
for reasons mentioned above.

If you're doing important work at a classified site, you shouldn't
be taking/placing calls anyway. Leave your adult version of the
baby pacifier in the car for a few hours and change your VM message
to say you'll be outta touch for awhile. It won't kill ya.

Jaap van Ekris \(MVP\)

Generally, these kind of sites hate the possibility of camera's, so I would
be carefull. My general experience is that when calling ahead, they have
loaner devices ready for you (people have this problem more and more) when
you arrive. Change the SIM and both parties are happy

--
Jaap van Ekris
Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices
http://modernnomads******

Hezi

Thanks Beverly,

I actually tried to do that but forgot to change the settings of the file
explorer to show the Windows folder. That's why I could not see it.
I hope that the activeSync will let me override the camera.exe. I will place
the calc.exe instead (i.e. make another copy of calc.exe and rename it to
camera.exe and then paste it in the Windows folder). I hope it will work.

Basically you guys are very much correct with regard to the usage of cell
phone in classified sites. Fortunately, my situation isn't that bad though,

Thank you all

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" wrote:

> That's flexible security ;-)
>
> been a while and don't know if this will still work on wm5+ rom files
>
> Create an empty file named "camera.exe"
>
> soft-reset the ppc
>
> connect the ppc via activesync
>
> use the pc's file explorer to browse to the location of camera.exe (you
> will have to set file explorer to see hidden/system files)
>
> copy the empty camera.exe file over the file on the ppc... been too long
> but there will be some protestations and attributes issues to deal with.
>
> If you are successful, the new (empty) file will be executed when the
> button is pressed.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>

Hezi

Well,,,

There is a slight problem with this approach- I have just tried it.
Once the PocketPC is connected I cannot browse to the Windows folder. This
is despite the setting that say to display hidden files and include system
files.
I guess this is a method of WM5 to protect itself.


If that is the case, how can I still browse to the Windows folder, or be
able to replace the camera.exe application file?




"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" wrote:

> That's flexible security ;-)
>
> been a while and don't know if this will still work on wm5+ rom files
>
> Create an empty file named "camera.exe"
>
> soft-reset the ppc
>
> connect the ppc via activesync
>
> use the pc's file explorer to browse to the location of camera.exe (you
> will have to set file explorer to see hidden/system files)
>
> copy the empty camera.exe file over the file on the ppc... been too long
> but there will be some protestations and attributes issues to deal with.
>
> If you are successful, the new (empty) file will be executed when the
> button is pressed.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>

Todd Allcock

At 08 Sep 2007 12:56:02 -0700 Hezi wrote:

> There is a slight problem with this approach- I have just tried it.
> Once the PocketPC is connected I cannot browse to the Windows folder.
This
> is despite the setting that say to display hidden files and include
system
> files.
> I guess this is a method of WM5 to protect itself.
>
>
> If that is the case, how can I still browse to the Windows folder,
or be
> able to replace the camera.exe application file?

Can't you just redefine what app is invoked by the camera button in
Start / Settings / Buttons?

--

"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003

Hezi

Thanks Todd,

Great idea that solves the camera activation through the side button.
Yet, it does not affect other references to the camera, such as from the
Start->Camera.

Thanks

"Todd Allcock" wrote:

> At 08 Sep 2007 12:56:02 -0700 Hezi wrote:
>
> > There is a slight problem with this approach- I have just tried it.
> > Once the PocketPC is connected I cannot browse to the Windows folder.
> This
> > is despite the setting that say to display hidden files and include
> system
> > files.
> > I guess this is a method of WM5 to protect itself.
> >
> >
> > If that is the case, how can I still browse to the Windows folder,
> or be
> > able to replace the camera.exe application file?
>
> Can't you just redefine what app is invoked by the camera button in
> Start / Settings / Buttons?
>
> --
>
> "I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
> or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
> all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
> ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003
>
>
>

Scott Seligman

<Hezi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>Thanks Todd,
>
>Great idea that solves the camera activation through the side button.
>Yet, it does not affect other references to the camera, such as from the
>Start->Camera.

You can delete that by deleting the link in "\Windows\Start Menu"

At the end of the day, however, nothing you do will prevent the camera
from working after a hard-reset. I'd be surprised if there's a
solution that'll make the security people at your building happy,
short of soldering iron and some spray paint.

--
--------- Scott Seligman <scott at <firstname> and michelle dot net> ---------
What do you despise? By this are you truly known.
-- Dune by Frank Herbert

Hezi

Scott,

Yours was a good advise as well.
The security officer wanted to avoid unintentional operation of the camera.
At the end of the day, there is almost no realistic method for them to block
you from getting a tiny camera, and they know it. If you work for them, they
trust you but they just want to avoid unintentional mistakes.

Hope this makes sense.


"Scott Seligman" wrote:

> <Hezi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> >Thanks Todd,
> >
> >Great idea that solves the camera activation through the side button.
> >Yet, it does not affect other references to the camera, such as from the
> >Start->Camera.
>
> You can delete that by deleting the link in "\Windows\Start Menu"
>
> At the end of the day, however, nothing you do will prevent the camera
> from working after a hard-reset. I'd be surprised if there's a
> solution that'll make the security people at your building happy,
> short of soldering iron and some spray paint.
>
> --
> --------- Scott Seligman <scott at <firstname> and michelle dot net> ---------
> What do you despise? By this are you truly known.
> -- Dune by Frank Herbert
>