Mark Zuckerberg blocks out laptop webcam and microphones with tape, no evidence of tin-foil hat

Mark Zuckerberg celebrated Instagram reaching 500 million users by posting a photo of himself holding a large mockup frame meant to look like a Polaroid photo. He thanked the users for making Instagram a beautiful place. However, the photo gave away some details about the low tech way Zuckerberg secures his laptop. The machine’s web camera was covered with tape, and so were the microphones on the side.

Mark Zuckerberg may not be a shapeshifting reptilian overlord from Orion micromanaging human activity, but he might be paranoid enough to think they are out to get him. Eagle-eyed Twitter users were quick to point out Zuckerberg’s DIY security measures. https://twitter.com/topherolson/status/745294977064828929 At least it is some kind of reassurance for the 1.65 billion people who use Facebook every month, the 900 million who are on Facebook Messenger, 1 billion people who are on WhatsApp and the 500 million people now on Instagram that Zuckerberg is very serious about privacy. Maybe it just goes to show that technology is fragile, and physical counter measures are always more effective preventing devices from getting compromised. At least the tapes provide an additional line of defense in case malware gets into the laptop somehow. Is Mark Zuckerberg being too paranoid, or is it a sensible security measure that everyone should take? Let us know in the comments section below.