Edge accessed my camera

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

I mentioned this on another thread and it freaked me out! A new install of Windows 11. As usual, I turned off all the things I didn't want in settings. My antivirus popped up at some point and said "Edge has just accessed your camera". I checked my camera settings again and had most things turned off but Edge wasn't there to turn off. Google told me the setting is in Edge itself and you can set it to "Ask before using". I don't normally use Edge so not too familiar with the settings, but found it and it was already set to "Ask before using". Well it didn't ask! So I set it to "block"

Why was Edge accessing my camera when I was just sitting doing nothing in particular on the computer?

I also used to really like doing clean installs on Windows 10. With Windows 11 there are just far too many time consuming fiddly settings to change. For reasons mentioned elsewhere, I actually clean installed Windows 10 and then upgraded it to 11. I think that is a quicker way to do things actually, as I turned off all my background apps in less than a minute in Windows 10. And the settings remained as I had set them (ie "never") after the upgrade to 11. Whereas in 11 it takes me a good 20 tedious minutes to manually turn off all the background apps.

Berton · Jan 24, 2024

That is a security concern to which my response is to Disable the camera in Device Manager and/or to put a small sticky thing such as a stamp over the lens on the edge of the display panel. Same for the microphone.

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

Thanks. So if I disable the camera in device settings and, say want, to do a zoom call, will it manually activate the camera then or will I need to change the settings again? Agree it's a security thing but I didn't expect EDGE to surreptitiously use it! I wasn't even using Edge.

Edwin · Jan 24, 2024

Hazel123 said:
"Edge has just accessed your camera"

Is your mic integrated with your camera?
Could be it just wants to use your mic for spoken dialog.

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

It didn't mention the mic. Just said Edge just accessed your camera. I wasn't using anything at the time, just sorting out my task bar I think.

Berton · Jan 24, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Thanks. So if I disable the camera in device settings and, say want, to do a zoom call, will it manually activate the camera then or will I need to change the settings again? Agree it's a security thing but I didn't expect EDGE to surreptitiously use it! I wasn't even using Edge.

You'd have to go back into Device Manager to Enable it each time. And Edge usually is running in the background.

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

I'll disable it then - I rarely do zoom calls and will just have to remember to turn it on again. There is no privacy flap on this laptop camera and peeling a bit of sticky tape on and off regularly doesn't appeal

Ghot · Jan 24, 2024

Hazel123 said:
I'll disable it then - I rarely do zoom calls and will just have to remember to turn it on again. There is no privacy flap on this laptop camera and peeling a bit of sticky tape on and off regularly doesn't appeal

You can "make" a privacy flap.
Just get a little circle of cardboard, and use some tape for the hinge.

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

Sorry I didn't realise you meant disable it in device manager. I meant just turn it off in settings. At the moment in settings, I have now turned off everything including "desktop apps" except "camera". And the same for audio. Presumably that means I can opt to use the camera for something manually? Eg a zoom call or to take a photo?

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

Ghot said:
You can "make" a privacy flap.
Just get a little circle of cardboard, and use some tape for the hinge.

Looks like a privacy flap is going to be easier than turning off settings and working out what does what!

Winuser · Jan 24, 2024

This is what I use on my laptops. Amazon.com : laptop camera cover slide

idgat · Jan 24, 2024

Tin foil hat mode ...
- Start > (no clicks, just start typing) Control Panel > click Control panel > v Device Manager > v Camera (to expand) > right click camera entry > Disable device
and
- Settings > search "camera" > Privacy and Security - Camera > slide all switches to OFF
and
- browser settings e.g. Edge > Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions > Camera > slide switch to OFF (all browsers have a similar option)

And then for good measure ...
- black electrical tape over the camera lens

And of course, if/when you want to use the camera all these processes have to be reversed .. the price of privacy.

EDIT Depending on your malware software, a lot of 3rd party malware programs have capacity for settings to block camera access

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

Winuser said:
This is what I use on my laptops. Amazon.com : laptop camera cover slide

Brilliant thank you

Hazel123 · Jan 24, 2024

idgat said:
Tin foil hat mode ...
- Start > (no clicks, just start typing) Control Panel > click Control panel > v Device Manager > v Camera (to expand) > right click camera entry > Disable device
and
- Settings > search "camera" > Privacy and Security - Camera > slide all switches to OFF
and
- browser settings e.g. Edge > Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions > Camera > slide switch to OFF (all browsers have a similar option)

And then for good measure ...
- black electrical tape over the camera lens

And of course, if/when you want to use the camera all these processes have to be reversed .. the price of privacy.

EDIT Depending on your malware software, a lot of 3rd party malware programs have capacity for settings to block camera access

Thanks - I’ll look at the settings on the av - so far it just annoyingly told me something had accessed the camera rather than saying do you want to stop it accessing the camera!

Winuser · Jan 25, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Brilliant thank you

You're Welcome.

Hazel123 · Jun 9, 2024

Just as an update. I changed the settings in my antivirus to ask before allowing Edge to access my camera and it is suprising how often it pops up and asks and I block it. Usually it's as soon as I connect to the internet (on Firefox, not Edge) and at various other random times. So does Microsoft want to see everything I do on the internet? Not on really!

Catnip · Jun 9, 2024

My camera is not built in, it's a Logitech C270 perched on top of my monitor.

I don't have this problem, and TBH, I didn't know it existed as I always have my camera unplugged except when I am on a video call.

I'll trade the small inconvenience of having to remember to plug it in for a little security any day.

@Hazel123 those little slide thingies for the laptop cameras that Winuser linked are wonderful. I have two for both of my laptops. No one can see me, I am invisible! Woohoo!

Edwin · Jun 9, 2024

Hazel123 said:
So does Microsoft want to see everything I do on the internet?

Yes they do!
Henceforth Recall!!!

Hazel123 · Jun 9, 2024

It just doesn't seem right! Ok they are a bona fide company but nobody should spy on what I do on the internet! I know they're not likely to be hacked, but they could see banking info and all sorts. I also know I can put a cover over the camera, but the issue is - why should Edge access it at all when I'm not even using Edge? Or just at all!

Berton · Jun 9, 2024

Hazel123 said:
I also know I can put a cover over the camera, but the issue is - why should Edge access it at all when I'm not even using Edge? Or just at all!

Open Task Manager and check the Details section for msedge.exe.

Edge accessed my camera

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