The good news is that it’s relatively easy to control how the camera and audio components are accessed, and disabling access is just a few clicks or taps away. Here’s how to do it, no matter what device you’re using

Windows

If you open Settings from the Start menu and then select Privacy, you’ll see a long list of permissions programs can request from Windows on the left. These cover everything from notifications to your device’s location, but we’re most interested in Camera and Microphone permissions.

Click on any of the headings to see the programs that have access to those parts of the system. Of course, there may be good reasons why apps need access to the camera or microphone, but if you notice something you don’t like, turn off the appropriate switch to block the app from accessing those components.

mac os operating system

Unlike Windows, macOS has indicators of camera and microphone activity. The green and orange icons, respectively, in the menu bar at the top of the screen should let you know that the camera or microphone is in use. If you have a third-party webcam connected, it will most likely have its own indicators as well (check its manual if you’re not sure).

Indicators should alert you to activity, but you can also check which of your installed apps have official permission to access your camera and microphone. Open the Apple menu, click System Preferences, then click the Privacy & Security tab. In the list that opens, you will see that you have items for the microphone and camera.

Click on any of these headings to check the app’s permissions. You can then decide whether the app has a legitimate reason to access your camera and microphone. If you cannot find such a reason for any application in the list, turn off the appropriate switch; This permission will be revoked.

Browsers

Browsers also have their own privacy settings that regulate camera and microphone access rights. This can be useful when you need to deny access not only for certain sites, but want to leave access to these sounds and videos for the browser in general in the operating system itself.

You can block access both for everyone and centrally for each site:

• Central. This happens differently in different browsers. In Chrome, select “Settings” – “Privacy and security” – “Site settings”. Then select “Camera” or “Microphone”. Specify whether they can request access. If you have previously allowed or banned any sites, you will see them in the corresponding list and, if necessary, you can remove them. In Edge: Select “Settings” – “Cookies and site permissions” – “Camera” or “Microphone”. Specify whether they can request access. Firefox: “Settings” – “Privacy and security”. Scroll down and find “Camera” or “Microphone”.
• Also, when you are on any page, you can always click on a special icon located at the very beginning of the address bar. In Chrome it looks like a pair of horizontal sliders, in Edge it looks like a padlock. Select “Site settings” or “Permissions for this site”. In Firefox, this will be the shield icon and then “Security settings”.

Camera or microphone icons also appear in the address bar on the right when the camera or microphone is in active use.

Android

Different phone manufacturers approach this issue differently in Android, but nowadays all new versions of Android include an indicator icon that shows when the built-in camera or microphone is used.

If you want to preemptively block or allow access, do the following:

• Open the settings.
• Find the privacy protection section. It may be called differently in different shells.
• You will see a list of permissions. Select the camera or microphone.
• You will see a list of apps that are allowed to use the camera and microphone, those that are not allowed, and those that can only do so while in use.
• To edit a permission, click on the app and select the option you want.

This can also be done differently for a specific application:

• Go to settings.
• Select “Programs” – “All programs”.
• Select the program you want or find it in the search.
• Click “App Permissions”.
• Select the desired item – “Camera” or “Microphone”.
• To organise.

iOS

You can tell when the camera or microphone is active on your iPhone because you’ll see a green (camera) or orange (microphone) dot at the top of the screen. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to go to Control Center, then tap at the top to see exactly which apps are using these system components.

To view access on iOS, open Settings, then select Privacy & Security. This page lists all the different permissions apps can get, from Bluetooth privileges to access to your photo library. Click “Microphone” or “Camera” to see which apps have been granted these permissions.

It makes sense that video calling apps, not games or email clients, need these permissions; The app developer should explain why permissions are required when you see a pop-up asking for permissions. If you see an app that you definitely don’t want to allow access to your camera or microphone, turn off the appropriate switch.