Apple Warns MacBook Users That Covering Camera Can Break Display

Instead, look at the green light next to the camera if you want to know when it's active or not.

This is because - according to the folks that make them - sticking a piece of paper or a Post-It note over the camera obstructs the carefully designed closing point of the device, meaning that the screen could shatter when closed.

This advice is for anyone who owns a MacBook, a MacBook Air, or a MacBook Pro. If you've ever owned, or looked at owning one of them, you'll know that you really don't want to mess anything up with them.

Apple's official website states: "If you close your Mac notebook with a camera cover installed, you might damage your display because the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances."

Also, Apple claims that the green light is conclusive enough, as it simply tells you when the computer is active - if the light ain't on, the camera is not active.

Therefore, sticking something across it is overkill, and potentially dangerous to the screen.

Oh, and that's not all. There are other features that could be affected by covering up the front camera.

Covering the camera could affect the machine's ambient light sensor, as well as the auto-brightness settings, and the Apple retina display True Tone technology, apparently.

Apple doesn't actually address the idea that we're all being spied on secretly, and we'll not get into it either.

However, the company did address the fact that a lot of people have to cover over their screens if they work in an 'environment [that] requires a camera cover at all times'.

In these circumstances, Apple recommends you use something that isn't sticky, and won't leave an adhesive residue.

It's also important to use something that is really thin, and remember to take it off before you close the screen, as that's where the danger is.

It's not cheap to get such issues fixed, but it is covered by AppleCare+ Insurance.